OPEN - ESDS

Travel 

trends 

A Report on the 1998 

International Passenger Survey 

ONS, Travel Trends 1998, © Crown copyright 1999 

Editor : Iain MacLeay 

Authors: Larissa Gallagher 

Josh Lovegrove 

Nathan Kaneshanathan 

Production Team: Alistair Price 

Peter Samani 

Gaynor Tizzard 

London: The Stationery Office 

Introduction 

(ONS) 

1

Introduction 

Other IPS products from ONS... 

2 

First Release 

Overseas travel and tourism 

August 1999 

Travelpac 1993-1998 (available early 2000) 

The Travelpac CD-Rom provides greater detail on selected IPS variables. 

Travelpac datasets are ready for analysis using the built-in browser, or can be 

accessed in four common formats for use with your own analysis software. 

Additional data formats supplied are SPSS, Excel, Dbase and ASCII. 

Variables include: mode of travel; purpose of visit; package trip or 

independent; time of year of travel; age range; gender; country of residence 

for overseas visitors or country of visit for UK residents; duration of stay. 

The 1993-1998 Travelpac costs £150 plus VAT (£176.25) 

To order, please call ONS Direct, tel: 01633 812078, fax: 01633 812762. 

Telephone helpline support also available. 

MQ6 - Overseas Travel and Tourism 

Overseas Travel and Tourism gives a summary of the very latest IPS 

quarterly information. 

The bulletin is published by The Stationery Office and costs £85 for 

four issues. 

To order, call The Stationery Office, tel: 0870 600 5522, fax: 0870 600 5533. 

Overseas Travel and Tourism First Release 

Gives time series results from the IPS updated every month. 

Information covers: the number of overseas residents’ visits to the UK and 

UK residents’ visits abroad, plus overseas earnings and expenditure. 

Paper version available price £41.25 (11 issues a year); 

The release is also available via the ONS Statfax fax retrieval system, 

tel: 0906 736 0223; (calls charged at £1 per minute). 

Selected IPS data are downloadable free of charge from Statbase, the 

Government Statistical Services’s online database. 

ONS, Travel Trends 1998, © Crown copyright 1999

Contents Page 

Introduction 

Introduction ....................................................................................... 5 

Chapter 1 

Travel and tourism 1978 to 1998 ..................................................... 11 

Tables ............................................................................................... 16 

Chapter 2 

Overseas residents’ visits to the UK 1994 to 1998 ....................... 25 

Tables ............................................................................................... 30 

Chapter 3 

UK residents’ visits abroad 1994 to 1998.................................................. 47 

Tables .......................................................................................................... 52 

Chapter 4 

Overseas residents’ visits to the UK 1998 ................................................ 67 

Tables .......................................................................................................... 75 

Chapter 5 

UK residents’ visits abroad 1998 ............................................................... 93 

Tables ........................................................................................................ 100 

Chapter 6 

The 1997 expenditure trailer .................................................................... 115 

Tables ........................................................................................................ 118 

Appendices 

A Information available from the IPS ..................................................... 122 

B Methodology ........................................................................................ 125 

C Definitions ............................................................................................ 130 

D Response rates of the survey ............................................................. 133 

E Accuracy of IPS estimates .................................................................. 134 

F Access to IPS data .............................................................................. 135 


Introduction Contents 

3

Introduction 

4 



Introduction 

Introduction 

5

Introduction 

6 

Introduction 

Travel Trends presents the main results from the International Passenger Survey (IPS) which 

collects information on travel to and from the United Kingdom. 

Although concentrating on the findings of the 1998 survey, this edition contains information on 

long and shorter-term trends and a report on the expenditure trailer carried out in 1997. 

What is the International Passenger Survey? 

The IPS is a sample survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for itself and a 

number of other Government Departments. The results are based on face to face interviews 

with a sample of passengers as they enter or leave the UK by the principal air, sea and tunnel 

routes. 

Travellers passing through passport control are randomly selected for interview. Nearly 263,000 

interviews were conducted in 1998 representing about 0.2 per cent of travellers. The interviews 

were conducted on a voluntary and anonymous basis with a response rate of 81 per cent. The 

survey covers both adults and children. 

The main aims of the IPS are to: 

a) collect data on both credits and debits for the travel account of the UK balance of payments; 

b) provide detailed information about overseas visitors to the UK for tourism policy; 

c) provide data on international migration; 

d) collect travel information on passenger routes as an aid to aviation and shipping authorities. 

Since the IPS was started in 1961, its coverage has been extended to include all the main air, 

sea and tunnel ports or routes into and out of the UK. The only routes excluded from the survey 

are those to and from the Irish Republic and the Channel Islands, and cruise ships travelling to 

and from the UK. 

The results from the IPS are supplemented with estimates provided by the Central Statistics 

Office of the Irish Republic for travel between the UK and the Republic. Estimates of spending 

are also supplemented with figures from the Economic Advisor’s Office in Jersey, which provides 

information with respect to the Channel Islands. From April 1999, routes to the Republic of 

Ireland will also be covered, which will improve estimates for travel to and from that country. 

About 90 per cent of passengers entering and leaving the UK (excluding those travelling to and 

from the Irish Republic) are covered by the survey. The remainder are either passengers travelling 

at night, when interviewing is suspended, or on those routes too small in volume or expensive to 

be covered. These non-sampled routes and time periods are, however, taken into account when 

calculating weights for the IPS contacts. 

ONS produces results from the IPS on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. (Please see 

appendix F for details). A fuller description of the IPS methodology can be found in appendix B 

of this report. 


The IPS is a large continuous survey and ONS wishes to acknowledge the large part played by 

the interviewers throughout the year, and to thank the respondents for the information they 

provided. 

How is the IPS analysed? 

The records in the IPS database are mainly identified by their ‘flow’. Flow is described as the 

direction of travel of the visitor combined with whether they are a UK resident or an overseas 

resident. There are, therefore, four main flows on the IPS: 

a) overseas residents departing from the UK; 

b) UK residents departing from the UK; 

c) overseas residents arriving in the UK; 

d) UK residents arriving in the UK. 

For the purposes of this publication, only data relating to overseas residents departing from the 

UK and UK residents arriving in the UK have been used. This is because the IPS interviews for 

these groups of travellers take place at the end of the visit when factual information about visit 

duration and spending is available. This is felt to be more complete and reliable than the 

information gathered at the beginning of a trip when intentions regarding duration and spending 

may not prove to be accurate. 

Mode of transport 

Being a group of islands, only two main modes of transport to and from the UK were available 

until 1994, air and sea. The Channel Tunnel between the UK and France began operating 

towards the end of 1994, and information regarding this mode of transport is available from 

quarter four 1994. 

Journeys by sea and tunnel can be further analysed to show whether a vehicle was taken on the 

trip and if so, the type of vehicle that was used. 

Country of residence or visit 

For overseas residents visiting the UK, this is the main country of residence of the visitor. For UK 

residents travelling abroad, it is the main country of visit. 

For areas of the world beyond the European Union in this publication, many countries are shown 

within groups rather than having been listed separately. Although the IPS can identify all countries 

individually, it would be impractical to show all these; also for many countries sample sizes are 

too small to give accurate estimates. For some tables, countries are shown grouped into major 

areas of the world. A description of the countries included in groups is given in appendix C. 


Introduction 

7

Introduction 

8 

A larger number of countries than appear in this publication, can be identified in the Travelpac 

CD-ROM. 

In addition to the country groupings, some analyses are shown by major area of the world. The 

areas used are: 

a) North America; 

b) EU Europe; 

c) Non EU Europe; 

d) Other Countries. 

EU Europe is defined (for all years in this publication) as consisting of the current member 

countries. For Germany, for the years before reunification in 1991, the states of the then East 

Germany do not appear within the Germany total and therefore are not included within the EU 

Europe totals. 

Purpose of visit 

Many reasons for visits are recorded on the IPS. Some, for example, people migrating or travelling 

as crew of aircraft, ships or trains, are excluded from analyses in this publication. The remaining 

purposes have been amalgamated into four main categories: 

a) Holiday; 

b) Business; 

c) Visiting friends or relatives; 

d) Miscellaneous. 

The categories describe the main purpose of the visit and where it is not possible to determine 

this, the visit is shown within the miscellaneous category. 

Conference and trade fair visits, which can be separately identified and analysed from the IPS, 

are included in the business category. Visits made for study, medical treatment and shopping 

appear under the miscellaneous category. 

Independence 

The IPS collects information on whether tourists travel independently or on some form of package 

trip. The holiday purpose category is split into two sectors in this publication to show package 

holidays as well as total holiday visits. Other main purposes have not been disaggregated 

although it is possible to do this if required from the Travelpac CD-ROM or from analyses 

commissioned from marketing agents. 


Age and gender 

Respondents are classified into seven age groups. Questions on exact age are not asked on the 

survey as it is felt that people may be disinclined to give accurate answers, and age groups are 

normally sufficient for users’ needs. Information on the gender of respondents is also collected. 

UK region of visit 

For overseas residents, information is collected regarding the place of stay during their visit to 

the UK. Information is collected and recorded by the towns where the person has stayed for at 

least one night. Within this publication, however, the UK regions stayed in are shown by county. 

People who do not stay in any particular place or who do not stay overnight are shown separately. 

Making analyses over a specific time period 

Although the IPS data are collected throughout the year, national estimates are produced by 

quarter in a process known as ‘weighting’. A single quarter therefore becomes the minimum 

period over which most detailed analyses of the IPS data can be made. Quarters are then 

summed to form years. 

Expenditure Trailer 

As part of the 1997 IPS, an expenditure trailer was carried out which sought information on what 

overseas residents had spent their money on whilst on their visit to the UK. The results from this 

trailer are reported, along with results from earlier trailers in chapter 6 of this publication. 

Please note: 

a) Spending data exclude fares to and from the UK. 

b) Visits and spending information regarding travel to or from the 

Irish Republic are included in the totals figures in this publication 

but may not always appear in the rows and columns. 

Consequently, rows and columns in tables may not always sum 

to the totals. 

c) Expenditure data relating to the Channel Islands are included 

within the European Union totals but are not shown separately. 

This means that spending for European Union countries will not 

always sum to the European Union totals shown. 

d) The totals shown in tables with breakdowns by duration of stay 

do not always agree with the sums of the various countries or 


A traveller being 

interviewed for the IPS 

at Waterloo 

areas shown. This is because the IPS is unable to obtain this information for travel to and 

from the Irish Republic and therefore this group of travellers is excluded from these tabulations. 

Introduction 

9

Introduction 

10 



Travel and Tourism 1978-1998 

Chapter 1 


Overseas residents 

n Record 25.7 million visits in 1998 with record levels of spending. 

n Lowest growth rates in visitor numbers since 1991. 

UK residents 

n Over 50 million visits abroad made for the first time in 1998. 

n Highest growth rates in visitor number since the mid ‘80s. 

Balance 

n Record deficit of £6.8 billion, £2.1 billion more than in 1997. 

n Exchange rate movements have had significant effects on both 

overseas and UK residents’ travel. 

11 

: 1

1 : Travel and Tourism 1978-1998 

1.01 Visits by overseas residents to the 

UK and UK residents abroad 

millions 

12 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

1.02 UK residents’ visits abroad 1970-98 

millions 

0 

1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

Overseas residents UK residents 

0 

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 

1.03 Average length of stay 

nights 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

8 

1998 

70 

1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 


Chapter 1 

Travel and Tourism 1978 to 1998 

This chapter examines long-term trends in tourism to and from the 

UK over the last 20 years. 

Tables 1.01 and 1.02 show the total number of visits made by 

overseas residents to the UK and by UK residents abroad, together 

with the number of nights, and amount of money (both in current and 

constant 1995 prices) spent on such visits. 

Number of visits and nights 

Figure 1.01 shows that the upward trend of tourism, by both overseas 

residents to the UK and by UK residents abroad, continued in 1998. 

There have been very different growth rates between the two series 

in the last few years, with low levels of growth in the number of overseas 

residents visiting the UK, but with very high levels of growth in the 

number of UK residents travelling abroad. 

In 1998, overseas residents made 25.7 million visits to the UK, more 

than double the level of visits made in 1978. However, the growth in 

overseas residents’ visits to the UK between 1997 and 1998 was the 

lowest since 1991; when the gulf war led to a fall in the number of 

visits to the UK. 

Figure 1.02 shows the ever rising rate of increase in visits made 

abroad. In 1972 10 million visits were made overseas, and 10 years 

later this number had doubled to 20 million. Seven years later in 

1989, the figure had again risen by 10 million, with the next rise of 10 

million occurring just six years after that. The latest 10 million rise 

from 40 to 50 million in 1998 only took a further three years. 

Between 1978 and 1998 the number of nights spent by overseas 

residents in the UK rose by just over 50 per cent from 149 million to 

231 million, whilst the number of nights spent by UK residents abroad 

almost tripled, rising from 176 million to 509 million. Over this period, 

both the average length of stay for overseas residents visiting the UK, 

and for UK residents travelling abroad fell by a quarter (figure 1.03). 

These falls were largely due to an increase in the number of day trips 

and short breaks taken by both overseas and UK residents. 

Spending 

Figure 1.04 shows that in 1998 spending by overseas residents in 

the UK was more than five times the level it was in 1978, rising from 

£2.5 billion to £12.7 billion. Spending by UK residents abroad was 


more than 12 times that in 1978, rising from £1.5 billion to £19.5 billion 

in 1998. These different average rates of growth (eight per cent per 

year for overseas residents compared with 13 per cent per year for 

UK residents) led to the Balance of Payments for travel changing 

from a surplus of £1.0 billion in 1978 (i.e. earnings from overseas 

residents’ visits to the UK exceeding expenditure from UK residents’ 

visits abroad) to a record deficit of £6.8 billion in 1998. 

Figure 1.05 shows spending in constant prices, which is spending 

with the effects of inflation removed. Spending at constant prices of 

overseas residents in the UK has fallen in the last few years and has 

shown annual growth of only one percent over the last 20 years. 

Spending at constant prices of UK residents abroad has increased at 

a very fast rate in both of the last two years, and has increased at an 

annual rate of nearly nine per cent over the last 20 years. In particular 

looking at the period from 1996 to 1998, spending of overseas residents 

to the UK was lower by three per cent, whilst that of UK residents 

abroad was 37 per cent higher compared to two years earlier. These 

very different changes are thought to be mainly due to exchange rate 

movements which have made the UK relatively more expensive for 

foreign visitors and the continent relatively cheaper for UK residents. 

Visits by purpose of visit 

Tables 1.03 and 1.04 show the number of visits and spending of 

overseas residents visiting the UK and by UK residents travelling 

abroad broken down by their purpose of visit. Figure 1.06 illustrates 

the growth in the number of overseas residents visiting the UK by 

purpose of visit. It can be seen that the growth between 1978 and 

1988 was mainly due to an increase in the number of business visitors 

and those visiting friends or relatives, whilst the more recent growth, 

since 1988, has been spread across all purposes. Figure 1.07 shows 

the same information as figure 1.06 but for UK residents visits abroad. 

The largest component of growth for UK residents has been in the 

number of holiday visits made abroad, which has grown from 8.4 million 

visits made in 1978 to 32.3 million visits in 1998. 

Figure 1.08 shows a comparison for holiday visits between the number 

of overseas residents visiting the UK and the number of visits UK 

residents make abroad. In 1978 1.4 holiday visits were made by UK 

residents to each of those by overseas residents. However, this ratio 

had changed in 1998 to three UK residents travelling abroad on holiday 

for every overseas holiday maker coming to the UK. 



1.04 Spending by overseas residents in 

the UK and UK residents abroad 

£ billions 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 

1.05 Constant price spending by overseas 

residents and UK residents 

£ billions 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 


0 

1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 

1.06 Overseas residents’ visits to the UK 

by purpose of visit 

millions 

30 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 


1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 

Holiday 

Business 

VFR 

Misc 

13 

: 1


1.07 UK residents’ visits abroad 


14 

millions 

60 

45 

30 

15 

0 

1.08 Holiday visits to and from the UK 

millions 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 

Holiday 

Business 

VFR 

Misc 


by main area of residence 

millions 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

1978 1988 1998 


North 

America 

Europe 

Other 

78 88 98 78 88 98 

78 88 98 

The ratio of business visits made by overseas residents to the UK, 

compared to the number of business visits by UK residents abroad, 

was similar in both 1978 and 1988. However, in 1998, 1.2 million 

more business visits were made by UK residents abroad than by 

overseas residents on business trips to the UK. 

Visits by area of residence or visit 


overseas residents visiting the UK by their main area of residence, 

and UK residents travelling abroad broken down by destination of 

visit. Figure 1.09 shows that the main growth in the number of 

overseas residents visiting the UK has been from visitors from Europe. 

The number of these has more than doubled from 7.9 million in 1978 

to 17.4 million in 1998, with the main growth occurring since the mid 

‘80s. There has, though, still been a high level of growth in the number 

of visitors from non-European residents, with growth from these other 

areas averaging three per cent per annum over the last 20 years. 

Figure 1.10 shows that the largest absolute rise in visits has been to 

European destinations, with nearly 30 million more visits made in 1998 

than in 1978, an average annual growth rate of seven per cent. 

However, an even faster rate of average annual growth of nine per 

cent has been recorded for visits to non European destinations. 

Visits by mode of travel 


overseas residents visiting the UK and of UK residents travelling 

abroad broken down by their mode of travel. Figure 1.11 shows that 

the number of overseas residents’ visits to the UK by air more than 

doubled between 1978 and 1998. Over the same period the number 

of visits to the UK by sea has remained fairly stable at the five million 

level, though a peak of more than six million visits were made in 1994, 

the year that the Channel Tunnel first opened. More than three million 

overseas residents used the Channel Tunnel in 1998. 

The proportion of all overseas visits accounted for by air travel rose 

from 60 per cent to 68 per cent between 1978 and 1998, whilst that 

accounted for by sea travel fell from 40 per cent to 20 per cent. In 

1998 the tunnel accounted for 12 per cent of overseas residents visits 

to the UK. 


The pattern of changes by mode of travel for UK residents’ visits abroad 

(figure 1.12) was similar to that for overseas residents’ visits to the 

UK, though there was growth seen by all modes of transport. The 

number of UK residents’ visits abroad by air more than quadrupled 

between 1978 and 1998, rising from 8.4 million to 34.3 million, and 

the number visits abroad by sea more than doubled, rising from 5.0 

million to 10.5 million. 

The proportion of all UK residents’ visits accounted for by air travel 

rose from 63 per cent to 67 per cent, whilst the proportion accounted 

for by sea travel fell from 37 per cent to 21 per cent. In 1998, six 

million UK residents’ visits abroad were made via the Channel Tunnel, 

which represented 12 per cent of total visits abroad. 




by main area of visit 

millions 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 


by mode of travel 

millions 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

North 

America 

Europe 



millions 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

Other 

78 88 98 78 88 98 78 88 98 

air 

sea/tunnel 

78 88 98 78 88 98 

air 

sea/tunnel 

78 88 98 78 88 98 

15 

: 1


16 

1.01 Overseas residents’ visits, nights and spending in the UK 1978 to 1998 

Visits Nights Spending 

Constant price spending 

(1995 constant prices) 

per cent per cent per cent per cent 

thousands change millions change £ million change £ million change 

1978 12,646 3.0 149.1 0.4 2,507 6.6 9,310 -7.4 

1979 12,486 -1.3 154.6 3.7 2,797 11.6 9,037 -2.9 

1980 12,421 -0.5 146.0 -5.6 2,961 5.9 8,085 -10.5 

1981 11,452 -7.8 135.4 -7.3 2,970 0.3 7,177 -11.2 

1982 11,636 1.6 136.3 0.7 3,188 7.3 7,059 -1.6 

1983 12,464 7.1 145.0 6.4 4,003 25.6 8,323 17.9 

1984 13,644 9.5 154.5 6.6 4,614 15.3 8,991 8.0 

1985 14,449 5.9 167.0 8.1 5,442 17.9 9,876 9.8 

1986 13,897 -3.8 158.2 -5.3 5,553 2.0 9,419 -4.6 

1987 15,566 12.0 178.2 12.6 6,260 12.7 9,993 6.1 

1988 15,799 1.5 172.9 -3.0 6,184 -1.2 9,142 -8.5 

1989 17,338 9.7 186.5 7.9 6,945 12.3 9,567 4.6 

1990 18,013 3.9 196.1 5.1 7,748 11.6 9,853 3.0 

1991 17,125 -4.9 186.4 -4.9 7,386 -4.7 8,627 -12.4 

1992 18,535 8.2 186.3 -0.1 7,891 6.8 8,784 1.8 

1993 19,863 7.2 189.5 1.7 9,487 20.2 10,188 16.0 

1994 20,794 4.7 191.8 1.2 9,786 3.2 10,050 -1.3 

1995 23,537 13.2 220.3 14.9 11,763 20.2 11,763 17.0 

1996 25,163 6.9 219.8 -0.3 12,290 4.5 11,954 1.6 

1997 25,515 1.4 222.5 1.3 12,244 -0.4 11,542 -3.4 

1998 25,745 0.9 230.8 3.7 12,671 3.5 11,573 0.3 

Average annual growth 3.6 2.2 8.4 1.1 


1.02 UK residents’ visits, nights and spending abroad 1978 to 1998 



Constant price spending 

Visits Nights Spending (1995 constant prices) 

per cent per cent per cent per cent 

thousands change millions change £ million change £ million change 

1978 13,443 16.6 176.4 12.6 1,549 30.6 4,125 24.2 

1979 15,466 15.0 205.0 16.2 2,109 36.2 5,385 30.5 

1980 17,507 13.2 227.7 11.1 2,738 29.8 6,859 27.4 

1981 19,046 8.8 251.1 10.3 3,272 19.5 7,345 7.1 

1982 20,611 8.2 261.7 4.2 3,640 11.2 7,272 -1.0 

1983 20,994 1.9 264.4 1.0 4,090 12.4 7,559 3.9 

1984 22,072 5.1 277.5 5.0 4,663 14.0 7,755 2.6 

1985 21,610 -2.1 270.0 -2.7 4,871 4.5 7,935 2.3 

1986 24,949 15.5 310.2 14.9 6,083 24.9 8,916 12.4 

1987 27,447 10.0 347.3 12.0 7,280 19.7 10,364 16.2 

1988 28,828 5.0 366.9 5.6 8,216 12.9 12,515 20.8 

1989 31,030 7.6 390.2 6.4 9,357 13.9 12,861 2.8 

1990 31,150 0.4 382.7 -1.9 9,886 5.7 12,021 -6.5 

1991 30,808 -1.1 377.8 -1.3 9,951 0.7 11,775 -2.1 

1992 33,836 9.8 404.7 7.1 11,243 13.0 12,678 7.7 

1993 36,720 8.5 427.7 5.7 12,972 15.4 13,184 4.0 

1994 39,630 7.9 446.6 4.4 14,365 10.7 14,852 12.7 

1995 41,345 4.3 450.8 0.9 15,386 7.1 15,386 3.6 

1996 42,050 1.7 449.8 -0.2 16,223 5.4 15,897 3.3 

1997 45,957 9.3 463.5 3.1 16,931 4.4 18,652 17.3 

1998 50,872 10.7 509.2 9.9 19,489 15.1 21,847 17.1 

Average annual growth 6.9 5.4 13.5 8.7 

17 

: 1


18 

1.03 Overseas residents’ visits and spending in the UK by purpose of visit 1978 to 1998 

Holiday Business VFR Miscellaneous Total 

visits spending visits spending visits spending visits spending visits spending 

thousands £ million thousands £ million thousands £ million thousands £ million thousands £ million 

1978 5,876 1,152 2,295 536 2,193 382 2,283 437 12,646 2,507 

1979 5,529 1,235 2,395 600 2,254 415 2,308 544 12,486 2,797 

1980 5,478 1,258 2,565 735 2,319 457 2,058 508 12,421 2,961 

1981 5,037 1,276 2,453 763 2,287 442 1,675 484 11,452 2,970 

1982 5,265 1,386 2,393 794 2,410 484 1,568 518 11,636 3,188 

1983 5,818 1,711 2,556 961 2,560 639 1,530 687 12,464 4,003 

1984 6,385 2,052 2,863 1,091 2,626 706 1,770 759 13,644 4,614 

1985 6,666 2,379 3,014 1,293 2,880 852 1,890 908 14,449 5,442 

1986 5,919 2,228 3,286 1,552 2,946 844 1,746 917 13,897 5,553 

1987 6,828 2,695 3,564 1,644 3,179 910 1,996 1,001 15,566 6,260 

1988 6,655 2,473 4,096 1,852 3,178 922 1,870 926 15,799 6,184 

1989 7,286 2,757 4,363 2,032 3,497 1,049 2,193 1,094 17,338 6,945 

1990 7,725 3,198 4,461 2,174 3,611 1,147 2,216 1,213 18,013 7,748 

1991 7,169 2,849 4,219 2,077 3,591 1,148 2,147 1,293 17,125 7,386 

1992 7,949 3,125 3,855 2,146 3,884 1,259 2,847 1,343 18,535 7,891 

1993 8,729 3,925 4,706 2,420 4,109 1,467 2,319 1,654 19,863 9,487 

1994 9,048 3,947 4,986 2,559 4,278 1,551 2,482 1,706 20,794 9,786 

1995 10,323 4,567 5,763 3,219 4,602 1,739 2,849 2,214 23,537 11,763 

1996 10,987 4,848 6,095 3,220 4,898 1,841 3,182 2,357 25,163 12,290 

1997 10,803 4,555 6,347 3,501 5,155 1,941 3,209 2,223 25,515 12,244 

1998 10,475 4,488 6,882 3,820 5,400 1,970 2,988 2,367 25,745 12,671 


1.04 UK residents’ visits and spending abroad by purpose of visit 1978 to 1998 



Holiday Business VFR Miscellaneous Total 


thousands £ million thousands £ million thousands £ million thousands £ million thousands £ million 

1978 8,439 976 2,261 339 1,970 167 774 67 13,443 1,549 

1979 9,827 1,356 2,542 447 2,166 213 931 93 15,466 2,109 

1980 11,666 1,851 2,690 521 2,317 263 834 103 17,507 2,738 

1981 13,131 2,248 2,740 610 2,378 295 797 119 19,046 3,272 

1982 14,224 2,477 2,768 683 2,529 350 1,090 130 20,611 3,640 

1983 14,568 2,753 2,886 805 2,559 385 982 147 20,994 4,090 

1984 15,246 3,111 3,155 984 2,689 407 982 161 22,072 4,663 

1985 14,898 3,215 3,188 1,075 2,628 412 896 169 21,610 4,871 

1986 17,896 4,287 3,249 1,131 2,774 505 1,029 160 24,949 6,083 

1987 19,703 5,134 3,639 1,323 3,051 612 1,054 211 27,447 7,280 

1988 20,700 5,893 3,957 1,448 3,182 629 990 246 28,828 8,216 

1989 21,847 6,737 4,505 1,616 3,485 730 1,193 274 31,030 9,357 

1990 21,273 6,810 4,769 1,836 3,952 930 1,156 310 31,150 9,886 

1991 20,788 6,909 4,840 1,821 3,952 910 1,227 312 30,808 9,951 

1992 23,236 7,987 5,162 1,932 4,100 978 1,338 346 33,836 11,243 

1993 25,133 9,059 5,297 2,287 4,457 1,106 1,833 520 36,720 12,972 

1994 27,187 10,026 5,614 2,565 4,674 1,270 2,155 504 39,630 14,365 

1995 27,808 10,425 6,113 2,974 4,938 1,358 2,486 629 41,345 15,386 

1996 26,765 10,610 6,879 3,359 5,502 1,533 2,904 721 42,050 16,223 

1997 29,138 11,107 7,166 3,351 6,004 1,650 3,649 823 45,957 16,931 

1998 32,306 12,495 8,033 4,124 6,452 1,869 4,082 1,001 50,872 19,489 

19 

: 1


20 

1.05 Overseas residents’ visits and spending in the UK by area of residence 1978 to 1998 

North America Europe Other Countries Total World 

visits spending visits spending visits spending visits spending 

thousands £ million thousands £ million thousands £ million thousands £ million 

1978 2,475 506 7,948 1,063 2,223 938 12,646 2,507 

1979 2,196 511 7,937 1,217 2,353 1,069 12,486 2,797 

1980 2,082 508 7,984 1,263 2,355 1,190 12,421 2,961 

1981 2,105 592 7,125 1,126 2,222 1,252 11,452 2,970 

1982 2,135 686 7,122 1,175 2,379 1,327 11,636 3,188 

1983 2,836 992 7,214 1,412 2,414 1,599 12,464 4,003 

1984 3,330 1,271 7,608 1,573 2,706 1,770 13,644 4,614 

1985 3,797 1,709 7,938 1,836 2,714 1,897 14,449 5,442 

1986 2,843 1,464 8,421 2,227 2,633 1,862 13,897 5,553 

1987 3,394 1,710 9,418 2,574 2,754 1,977 15,566 6,260 

1988 3,272 1,579 9,791 2,665 2,736 1,940 15,799 6,184 

1989 3,481 1,700 10,854 3,014 3,003 2,231 17,338 6,945 

1990 3,685 1,907 11,060 3,452 3,268 2,389 18,013 7,748 

1991 2,867 1,542 11,390 3,652 2,868 2,192 17,125 7,386 

1992 3,377 1,743 12,034 3,777 3,124 2,371 18,535 7,891 

1993 3,443 2,072 13,216 4,514 3,205 2,901 19,863 9,487 

1994 3,469 2,022 13,766 4,594 3,559 3,169 20,794 9,786 

1995 3,756 2,272 15,790 5,844 3,991 3,647 23,537 11,763 

1996 3,675 2,277 17,615 6,488 3,872 3,525 25,163 12,290 

1997 4,099 2,515 17,389 6,173 4,027 3,555 25,515 12,244 

1998 4,553 2,801 17,383 6,303 3,809 3,566 25,745 12,671 


1.06 UK residents’ visits and spending by area of visit 1978 to 1998 



North America Europe Other Countries Total World 



1978 782 167 11,664 1,169 997 213 13,443 1,549 

1979 1,087 265 13,144 1,535 1,235 309 15,466 2,109 

1980 1,382 408 14,676 1,942 1,449 389 17,507 2,738 

1981 1,514 518 16,063 2,265 1,469 490 19,046 3,272 

1982 1,299 472 17,748 2,608 1,564 560 20,611 3,640 

1983 1,023 417 18,377 3,021 1,594 652 20,994 4,090 

1984 919 447 19,536 3,483 1,617 733 22,072 4,663 

1985 914 440 19,181 3,687 1,515 744 21,610 4,871 

1986 1,167 626 22,071 4,630 1,711 827 24,949 6,083 

1987 1,559 805 23,903 5,441 1,985 1,034 27,447 7,280 

1988 1,823 989 24,819 6,052 2,186 1,175 28,828 8,216 

1989 2,218 1,325 26,451 6,608 2,361 1,424 31,030 9,357 

1990 2,325 1,455 26,268 6,831 2,557 1,600 31,150 9,886 

1991 2,370 1,539 26,057 6,888 2,381 1,525 30,808 9,951 

1992 2,813 1,707 28,275 7,802 2,748 1,734 33,836 11,243 

1993 3,052 2,063 30,506 8,734 3,162 2,175 36,720 12,972 

1994 2,927 2,033 33,096 9,832 3,608 2,500 39,630 14,365 

1995 3,120 2,229 34,418 10,422 3,808 2,736 41,345 15,386 

1996 3,584 2,698 34,213 10,260 4,253 3,265 42,050 16,223 

1997 3,594 2,713 37,745 10,879 4,618 3,338 45,957 16,931 

1998 4,158 3,239 41,552 12,325 5,163 3,926 50,872 19,489 

21 

: 1


22 

1.07 Overseas residents’ visits and spending in the UK by mode of travel 1978 to 1998 

Air Sea Tunnel Total 



1978 7,580 1,891 5,067 616 . . 12,646 2,507 

1979 7,614 2,122 4,872 675 . . 12,486 2,797 

1980 7,323 2,215 5,098 746 . . 12,421 2,961 

1981 6,889 2,313 4,563 657 . . 11,452 2,970 

1982 6,911 2,517 4,724 670 . . 11,636 3,188 

1983 7,661 3,148 4,803 855 . . 12,464 4,003 

1984 8,515 3,596 5,129 1,018 . . 13,644 4,614 

1985 9,413 4,430 5,036 1,011 . . 14,449 5,442 

1986 8,851 4,289 5,046 1,264 . . 13,897 5,553 

1987 10,335 5,014 5,231 1,247 . . 15,566 6,260 

1988 10,967 5,082 4,832 1,102 . . 15,799 6,184 

1989 11,829 5,721 5,509 1,224 . . 17,338 6,945 

1990 12,751 6,421 5,262 1,327 . . 18,013 7,748 

1991 11,614 6,035 5,511 1,351 . . 17,125 7,386 

1992 12,778 6,534 5,756 1,358 . . 18,535 7,891 

1993 13,694 7,857 6,169 1,631 . . 19,863 9,487 

1994 14,465 8,209 6,310 1,576 19 1 20,794 9,786 

1995 15,754 9,628 5,990 1,590 1,794 544 23,537 11,763 

1996 16,279 9,922 6,165 1,601 2,719 768 25,163 12,290 

1997 16,858 9,900 5,734 1,360 2,922 983 25,515 12,244 

1998 17,479 10,366 5,083 1,399 3,184 906 25,745 12,671 


1.08 UK residents’ visits and spending abroad by mode of travel 1978 to 1998 



Air Sea Tunnel Total 



1978 8,416 1,138 5,028 411 . . 13,443 1,549 

1979 9,760 1,598 5,706 512 . . 15,466 2,109 

1980 10,748 2,029 6,759 710 . . 17,507 2,738 

1981 11,374 2,361 7,672 911 . . 19,046 3,272 

1982 12,031 2,656 8,580 984 . . 20,611 3,640 

1983 12,361 2,959 8,634 1,131 . . 20,994 4,090 

1984 13,934 3,524 8,137 1,139 . . 22,072 4,663 

1985 13,732 3,695 7,878 1,176 . . 21,610 4,871 

1986 16,380 4,632 8,569 1,451 . . 24,949 6,083 

1987 19,369 5,739 8,077 1,541 . . 27,447 7,280 

1988 21,026 6,655 7,802 1,560 . . 28,828 8,216 

1989 21,925 7,457 9,105 1,900 . . 31,030 9,357 

1990 21,368 7,747 9,782 2,139 . . 31,150 9,886 

1991 20,408 7,740 10,401 2,211 . . 30,808 9,951 

1992 23,357 8,891 10,479 2,352 . . 33,836 11,243 

1993 25,354 10,316 11,366 2,656 . . 36,720 12,972 

1994 27,624 11,595 11,991 2,768 14 2 39,630 14,365 

1995 28,097 12,250 11,311 2,718 1,937 419 41,345 15,386 

1996 27,907 12,926 10,686 2,509 3,457 788 42,050 16,223 

1997 30,341 13,402 11,522 2,791 4,095 739 45,957 16,931 

1998 34,283 15,397 10,498 2,726 6,092 1,367 50,872 19,489 

23 

: 1


24 



Overseas residents 1994-1998 

Chapter 2 

Overseas residents’ visits 

to the UK 1994 to 1998 

millions 

30 

25 

20 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

25 

: 2

2 : Overseas residents 1994-1998 

2.01 Average annual growth in visits 

26 

per cent 

15 

10 

5 

0 

2.02 Visits by year and quarter 1994-1998 

millions 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 

0 

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

2.03 Quarterly growth 

in 1995 constant price spending 

per cent 

35 

30 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

-5 

Not seasonally adjusted 

Seasonally adjusted 

-10 

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

Chapter 2 

Overseas residents’ visits to the UK 1994 to 1998 

This chapter considers the short-term trends in travel and tourism to 

the UK over the period 1994 to 1998. 

Visits to the UK by overseas residents have increased from 20.8 million 

to 25.7 million an average annual growth rate of six per cent. From 

figure 2.01 it can be seen that much of the growth in visitor numbers 

can be attributed to the years 1994 to 1996 which saw visits increase 

by 13.2 per cent and 6.9 per cent respectively. From 1996 to 1998 

annual growth rates were far lower at 1.4 per cent and 0.9 per cent 

respectively. 

A similar pattern of growth is evident in the current price spending of 

overseas residents, which increased by an average annual rate of 

6.7 per cent per year to £12.7 billion in 1998 from £9.8 billion in 1994. 

However, much of this increase can again be attributed to the period 

1994 to 1996 when spending increased by an average annual rate of 

12 per cent. Between 1996 and 1998, spending grew at a far lower 

annual rate of less than two per cent. 

The number of nights stayed in the UK by overseas residents has 

increased from 192 million in 1994 to 231 million in 1998 - an average 

growth rate of 4.7 per cent per annum. 

Visits, nights and spending by quarter 

Table 2.01 shows the quarterly breakdown of visits both seasonally 

adjusted and not seasonally adjusted along with the number of nights 

stayed by overseas residents in the UK over the period 1994 to 1998. 

Table 2.02 shows the quarterly spending of overseas residents in the 

UK, both in current and 1995 constant prices. 

The quarterly growth in visits from 1994 to 1998 is illustrated in figure 

2.02. The seasonality of visits is clearly shown with peaks during the 

summer months of quarter three. The quarterly growth in constant 

1995 price spending is shown in figure 2.03. The strong growth 

experienced during 1995 and the first half of 1996 of around 15 per 

cent, was partially eroded with a fall in constant price spending during 

1997, before a return to growth during 1998. 

Visits and spending by area of residence 

Tables 2.03 and 2.04 contain the annual breakdowns of the number 

of visits to the UK and spending by overseas residents from 1994 to 

1998 by both main area of residence and purpose of visit. 


Figure 2.04 illustrates the growth in visits to the UK from all the major 

regions of the World from 1994 to 1998. Visitors from EU Europe 

generated the greatest increase in visitor numbers over this period, 

with 3.1 million additional visits being taken in 1998 than 1994, 

representing an average annual growth rate of 5.8 per cent. The 

smallest increase in visitor numbers was generated by residents of 

‘Other Countries’ for whom the 0.3 million additional visitors to the UK 

during 1998 represented an average annual growth rate of just 

1.7 per cent from 1994. 

A similar pattern of growth was seen in current price spending, with 

the greatest increase in average spending generated by residents of 

non EU Europe, with an average annual growth rate of 10.3 per cent 

between 1994 and 1998. 

Visits and spending by purpose of visit 

Figure 2.05 highlights the differences in annual growth between the 

main purposes of visit to the UK over the period 1994 to 1998. Visits 

made by overseas residents on business, or to visit friends or family 

produced the largest average annual growth rates of 8.4 per cent and 

6.0 per cent respectively. The lowest rate of growth of 0.5 per cent 

was found for overseas residents travelling to the UK on package 

holidays. 

As with the number of visits, spending on visits to friends or relatives, 

and for business, showed high levels of growth, with spending by 

those on package holidays falling. 

Average length of stay by purpose of visit 

Tables 2.05 and 2.06 show the number of nights, average length of 

stay, average spending per visit and average spending per day of 

overseas residents visiting the UK between 1994 and 1998. The 

average length of stay for all overseas residents’ visits to the UK has 

fallen from a peak of 9.4 nights during 1995, to 8.7 in 1996, and has 

since risen to an average of 9.0 nights during 1998. In terms of the 

purpose of visit, those for miscellaneous purposes generated the only 

average growth over the period 1994 to 1998, from an average of 

16.6 nights in 1994 to 18.5 nights in 1998. The greatest decline in 

average length of stay was found amongst visitors to friends and family, 

which fell from an average of 13.1 nights to 11.8 nights. 



2.04 Visits by year 

and main area of residence 

millions 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

North 

America 

EU 

Europe 

2.05 Visits by year 

and purpose of visit 

millions 

Non EU 

Europe 

2.06 Average spend per visit 

by year and purpose of visit 

£ 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

1000 

800 

600 

400 

200 

0 

Ind 

holiday 

Other 

Countries 

1994 1998 

Package 

holiday 

Business VFR Misc 

1994 1996 1998 

Holiday Business VFR Miscellaneous 

1994 1996 1998 

27 

: 2


2.07 Proportion of visits by sea and 

tunnel by year 

per cent 

28 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

Sea Tunnel 

2.08 Visits by year and type of UK airport 

millions 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

2.09 Top 5 countries by rise in number of 

visits from 1994 to 1998 

thousands 

USA 

Irish Republic 

Netherlands 

France 

Germany 

1994 1998 

Main Regional 

0 200 400 600 800 1,000 

Average spending per visit by purpose of visit 

Average spending per visit by overseas residents visiting the UK rose 

by £21, from £466 in 1994 to £487 during 1998. Much of this increase 

was driven by the record high levels of spending per visit made for 

miscellaneous purposes, up £105 to £792 in 1998, and for business 

purposes, up by £42 per visit to £555 in 1998 (figure 2.06). 

Visits and spending by mode of travel 

Tables 2.07 and 2.08 show the breakdown of overseas residents’ 

visits to the UK and spending by mode of travel and purpose of visit. 

Whilst the proportion of overseas residents’ visits to the UK by air 

have remained fairly stable from 1994 to 1998, figure 2.07 shows 

the impact of the opening of the Channel Tunnel upon the proportion 

of visits made by sea. The proportion travelling by sea has fallen 

from 30 per cent to 20 per cent, whilst the Channel Tunnel accounted 

for 12 per cent of traffic in 1998. 

Also of interest is the increasing proportion of overseas residents 

travelling to the UK via the regional airports. During 1994, 16 per cent 

of visits were made via the regional airports (all airports except 

Heathrow and Gatwick). However, by 1998 this proportion had 

increased to 27 per cent, excluding visits from residents of the Irish 

Republic, for whom this data is not collected in the IPS (figure 2.08). 

Visits and spending by country of residence 


visits to the UK and their spending by country of residence. In terms 

of absolute numbers of visits figure 2.09 illustrates that between 1994 

and 1998, visitors from the USA increased by the largest number – 

973 thousand, followed by the Irish Republic, Netherlands, France 

and Germany. There were reductions in the number of visits from 

residents of Japan and from the rest of Asia. 

Between 1994 and 1998 spending by overseas residents to the UK 

increased by nearly £3 billion. The largest increase was from residents 

of the USA whose spending increased by over £700 million. Large 

average annual growth in spending was also recorded by visitors 

from France and from the Scandinavian countries. 


Average stay and spending by country of residence 

Table 2.11 shows the number of nights along with the average length 

of stay in the UK by overseas country of residence from 1994 to 1998. 

In general the average number of nights stayed by overseas residents 

visiting the UK has fallen, this fall has been particularly evident amongst 

visitors from North America and Non EU Europe and amongst those 

visiting friends or relatives (see also table 2.05). 

The average spending per day for all purposes of visit to the UK has 

increased from £51 in 1994 to £54 per day during 1998 (table 2.12). 

However, the growth rates varied by area of residence, with residents 

of non EU European countries average spending per day increasing 

most by an average annual rate of 4.4 per cent. North American 

residents’ spending increased at an annual rate of 3.7 per cent and 

EU Europeans by 2.3 per cent. However, average spending per day 

of residents’ of ‘Other Countries’ fell by 0.6 per cent (figure 2.10). 

Visits and spending by length of stay 


visits and spending by their length of stay. There has been a decline 

in the popularity of day trips from its peak of 2.3 million visits during 

1997 to 2.0 million in 1998. Figure 2.11 illustrates that the growth in 

the number of visits to the UK by overseas residents from 1994 to 

1998 was largely for visits of 1 to 13 nights duration. 

Visits and spending by region of visit in the UK 

Tables 2.15 and 2.16 show the breakdown of overnight visits by 

overseas residents and their spending by region of visit in the UK. It 

should be noted that a single visit to the UK may span several regions, 

and consequently, the sub-totals for each region will not add up to the 

overall total of overnight visits to the UK. Figure 2.12 shows the 

average annual growth in visits by UK region over the period 1994 

to 1998. 



2.10 Average spending per day by year 

and by main area of residence 

£ 

75 

60 

45 

30 

15 

0 

2.11 Visits by year and duration of stay 

millions 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

Nil 

nights 

1 to 3 

nights 

4 to 13 

nights 

14 to 27 

nights 

28 nights 

or more 

1994 1996 1998 

2.12 Average annual growth in visits 

to major regions of the UK 1994-98 

per cent 

6 

4 

2 

0 

North 

America 

EU 

Europe 

Non EU 

Europe 

Other 

Countries 

Total 

World 

1994 1996 1998 

London Other England Scotland Wales 

29 

: 2


30 

2.01 Visits and nights by quarter of year 1994 to 1998 

Visits (thousands) Nights (thousands) 

not seasonally per cent change seasonally not seasonally per cent change 

Quarter adjusted from year earlier adjusted adjusted from year earlier 

1994 1 3,841 6.4 5,090 32,092 -3.1 

2 5,269 0.9 5,100 44,341 4.6 

3 6,892 2.9 5,210 78,562 2.1 

4 4,792 10.6 5,400 36,822 -0.9 

1995 1 4,216 9.8 5,590 35,531 10.7 

2 5,952 13.0 5,710 49,366 11.3 

3 7,746 12.4 5,920 86,387 10.0 

4 5,623 17.3 6,320 49,050 33.2 

1996 1 4,719 11.9 6,200 37,121 4.5 

2 6,680 12.2 6,420 52,049 5.4 

3 8,132 5.0 6,300 85,123 -1.5 

4 5,632 0.2 6,240 45,472 -7.3 

1997 1 4,940 4.7 6,370 38,433 3.5 

2 6,447 -3.5 6,310 49,650 -4.6 

3 8,168 0.4 6,250 89,238 4.8 

4 5,961 5.8 6,590 45,206 -0.6 

1998 1 4,804 -2.7 6,360 37,858 -1.5 

2 6,834 6.0 6,480 57,220 15.2 

3 8,027 -1.7 6,330 84,985 -4.8 

4 6,080 2.0 6,580 50,714 12.2 




2.02 Spending at current and 1995 constant prices by quarter of year 1994 to 1998 

Spending (£ million) Constant price spending (£ million) 

not seasonally per cent change seasonally not seasonally per cent change seasonally 

Quarter adjusted from year earlier adjusted adjusted from year earlier adjusted 

1994 1 1,688 1.8 2,400 1,754 -3.1 2,480 

2 2,343 6.8 2,450 2,411 1.8 2,530 

3 3,649 3.8 2,590 3,744 -0.5 2,650 

4 2,105 -0.7 2,370 2,141 -4.7 2,380 

1995 1 2,030 20.2 2,810 2,057 17.3 2,890 

2 2,768 18.2 2,870 2,775 15.1 2,870 

3 4,162 14.1 2,950 4,150 10.8 2,940 

4 2,803 33.1 3,130 2,781 29.9 3,050 

1996 1 2,175 7.2 3,010 2,148 4.4 3,000 

2 3,021 9.1 3,120 2,948 6.2 3,030 

3 4,225 1.5 3,010 4,103 -1.1 2,930 

4 2,869 2.4 3,140 2,755 -0.9 3,000 

1997 1 2,165 -0.5 2,980 2,078 -3.3 2,910 

2 2,979 -1.4 3,110 2,820 -4.3 2,880 

3 4,229 0.1 3,020 3,973 -3.2 2,860 

4 2,870 0.0 3,130 2,671 -3.0 2,900 

1998 1 2,250 3.9 3,140 2,093 0.7 2,880 

2 3,200 7.4 3,210 2,941 4.3 2,970 

3 4,212 -0.4 3,070 3,830 -3.6 2,810 

4 3,009 4.8 3,250 2,709 1.4 2,910 

31 

: 2


32 

2.03 Number of visits by main area of residence and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 

Average 

Annual 

Change Growth Growth 

Visits (thousands) 1997-98 1997-98 1994-98 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (000s) (%) (%) 

North America 

Holiday 1,604 1,790 1,700 1,903 2,169 266 14.0 7.8 

of which inclusive tour 459 513 415 458 472 14 3.1 0.7 

Business 674 731 742 809 905 96 11.9 7.6 

Visiting friends or relatives 819 828 833 950 1,000 50 5.3 5.1 

Miscellaneous 372 406 400 437 479 42 9.6 6.5 

All visits 3,469 3,756 3,675 4,099 4,553 454 11.1 7.0 

EU Europe 

Holiday 5,104 5,827 6,494 6,172 5,814 -358 -5.8 3.3 

of which inclusive tour 1,530 1,791 1,941 1,751 1,652 -99 -5.7 1.9 

Business 3,228 3,755 4,115 4,240 4,639 399 9.4 9.5 

Visiting friends or relatives 2,425 2,618 2,887 2,946 3,093 147 5.0 6.3 

Miscellaneous 1,388 1,652 1,945 1,942 1,665 -277 -14.3 4.7 

All visits 12,144 13,852 15,441 15,300 15,212 -88 -0.6 5.8 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 610 773 898 766 739 -27 -3.5 4.9 

of which inclusive tour 199 303 402 274 257 -17 -6.2 6.6 

Business 452 521 559 579 661 82 14.2 10.0 

Visiting friends or relatives 275 339 339 377 408 31 8.2 10.4 

Miscellaneous 285 306 378 367 363 -4 -1.1 6.2 

All visits 1,622 1,938 2,174 2,090 2,171 81 3.9 7.6 

Other Countries 

Holiday 1,730 1,933 1,895 1,963 1,753 -210 -10.7 0.3 

of which inclusive tour 575 610 603 592 444 -148 -25.0 -6.3 

Business 632 757 679 719 677 -42 -5.8 1.7 



All visits 3,559 3,991 3,872 4,027 3,809 -218 -5.4 1.7 

Total World 

Holiday 9,048 10,323 10,987 10,803 10,475 -328 -3.0 3.7 


Business 4,985 5,763 6,095 6,347 6,882 535 8.4 8.4 



All visits 20,794 23,537 25,163 25,515 25,745 230 0.9 5.5 


2.04 Spending by main area of residence and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 



Average 

Annual 


Spending (£million) 1997-98 1997-98 1994-98 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (£million) (%) (%) 

North America 

Holiday 943 1,005 1,018 1,103 1,260 157 14.2 7.5 


Business 503 622 630 715 806 91 12.7 12.5 

Visiting friends or relatives 341 337 340 423 413 -10 -2.4 4.9 


All visits 2,022 2,272 2,277 2,515 2,801 286 11.4 8.5 

EU Europe 

Holiday 1,495 1,845 2,067 1,764 1,678 -86 -4.9 2.9 

of which inclusive tour 445 626 592 481 447 -34 -7.1 0.1 

Business 1,011 1,303 1,398 1,492 1,612 120 8.0 12.4 


Miscellaneous 715 1,007 1,153 1,057 1,042 -15 -1.4 9.9 

All visits 3,744 4,831 5,335 4,979 5,044 65 1.3 7.7 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 254 340 376 321 305 -16 -5.0 4.7 


Business 308 340 365 355 484 129 36.3 12.0 



All visits 850 1,013 1,154 1,194 1,259 65 5.4 10.3 


Holiday 1,256 1,377 1,387 1,367 1,245 -122 -8.9 -0.2 


Business 737 955 828 938 918 -20 -2.1 5.6 



All visits 3,169 3,647 3,525 3,555 3,566 11 0.3 3.0 

Total World 

Holiday 3,947 4,567 4,848 4,555 4,488 -67 -1.5 3.3 

of which inclusive tour 966 1,215 1,149 1,009 940 -69 -6.8 -0.7 

Business 2,559 3,219 3,220 3,501 3,820 319 9.1 10.5 


Miscellaneous 1,706 2,214 2,357 2,223 2,367 144 6.5 8.5 

All visits 9,786 11,763 12,290 12,244 12,671 427 3.5 6.7 

33 

: 2


34 

2.05 Number of nights and average length of stay by main area of residence 1994 to 1998 

Nights (thousands) 

Average length of stay (nights) 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

North America 

Holiday 15,204 15,827 15,474 15,828 18,786 9.5 8.8 9.1 8.3 8.7 

of which inclusive tour 3,214 3,400 2,899 2,915 3,324 7.0 6.6 7.0 6.4 7.0 

Business 3,993 4,497 4,736 5,207 5,432 5.9 6.2 6.4 6.4 6.0 

Visiting friends or relatives 12,111 11,937 11,468 12,966 12,637 14.8 14.4 13.8 13.7 12.6 

Miscellaneous 4,144 4,290 4,679 5,566 5,516 11.1 10.6 11.7 12.7 11.5 

All visits 35,452 36,551 36,358 39,567 42,371 10.2 9.7 9.9 9.7 9.3 

EU Europe 

Holiday 30,415 34,130 36,364 35,889 34,298 6.0 5.9 5.6 5.8 5.9 


Business 11,080 13,494 13,514 14,422 15,901 3.4 3.6 3.3 3.4 3.4 



All visits 83,569 99,863 102,699 100,333 102,645 6.9 7.2 6.7 6.6 6.7 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 5,074 6,465 6,840 6,156 4,996 8.3 8.4 7.6 8.0 6.8 

of which inclusive tour 990 1,422 1,883 1,399 1,240 5.0 4.7 4.7 5.1 4.8 

Business 2,860 3,025 3,316 2,951 3,827 6.3 5.8 5.9 5.1 5.8 



All visits 17,643 22,885 22,321 22,567 22,057 10.9 11.8 10.3 10.8 10.2 


Holiday 20,166 21,294 21,366 22,076 21,437 11.7 11.0 11.3 11.3 12.2 


Business 5,755 7,939 6,367 7,296 7,105 9.1 10.5 9.4 10.2 10.5 



All visits 55,152 61,036 58,386 60,060 63,703 15.5 15.3 15.1 14.9 16.7 

Total World 

Holiday 70,859 77,716 80,045 79,949 79,517 7.8 7.5 7.3 7.4 7.6 


Business 23,688 28,954 27,933 29,877 32,265 4.8 5.0 4.6 4.7 4.7 



All visits 191,816 220,335 219,764 222,527 230,777 9.2 9.4 8.7 8.7 9.0 




2.06 Average spending per visit and spending per day by main area of residence 1994 to 1998 

Average spending per visit (£) Average spending per day (£) 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

North America 

Holiday 588 561 599 580 581 62 64 66 70 67 

of which inclusive tour 477 456 481 472 506 68 69 69 74 72 

Business 746 850 849 884 891 126 138 133 137 148 

Visiting friends or relatives 416 408 407 445 413 28 28 30 33 33 

Miscellaneous 618 739 706 610 657 55 70 60 48 57 

All visits 581 603 618 612 614 57 62 62 63 66 

EU Europe 

Holiday 278 303 306 271 272 47 52 55 47 46 


Business 313 347 340 352 347 91 97 103 103 101 



All visits 302 343 340 319 325 44 48 51 49 48 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 416 440 418 419 413 50 53 55 52 61 


Business 681 653 652 613 732 108 112 110 120 126 



All visits 523 522 530 570 579 48 44 52 53 57 


Holiday 726 712 732 697 710 62 65 65 62 58 


Business 1,167 1,262 1,220 1,306 1,355 128 120 130 129 129 


Miscellaneous 1,272 1,433 1,376 1,237 1,559 52 54 54 51 50 

All visits 888 911 908 881 934 57 60 60 59 56 

Total World 

Holiday 428 435 434 413 419 55 58 60 56 55 


Business 513 559 528 552 555 108 111 115 117 118 



All visits 466 495 484 475 487 51 53 55 55 54 

35 

: 2


36 

2.07 Number of visits by mode of travel and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 

Average 

Annual 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (000s) (%) (%) 

Air 

Holiday 5,375 5,809 5,852 5,924 5,956 32 0.5 2.6 

of which inclusive tour 1,603 1,742 1,681 1,567 1,466 -101 -6.4 -2.2 

Business 4,210 4,800 4,869 5,200 5,555 355 6.8 7.2 



All visits 14,465 15,754 16,279 16,858 17,479 621 3.7 4.8 

Sea 

Holiday 3,673 3,519 3,667 3,390 2,891 -499 -14.7 -5.8 

of which inclusive tour 1,161 1,258 1,304 1,124 918 -206 -18.3 -5.7 

Business 757 621 745 679 756 77 11.3 0.0 

Visiting friends or relatives 1,138 1,071 899 878 876 -2 -0.2 -6.3 

Miscellaneous 741 778 855 787 559 -228 -29.0 -6.8 

All visits 6,310 5,990 6,165 5,734 5,083 -651 -11.4 -5.3 

Tunnel 

Holiday 0 995 1,468 1,489 1,628 139 9.3 

of which inclusive tour 0 217 376 385 440 55 14.3 

Business 18 342 481 468 571 103 22.0 

Visiting friends or relatives 0 297 498 558 604 46 8.2 

Miscellaneous 1 160 271 407 380 -27 -6.6 

All visits 19 1,794 2,719 2,922 3,184 262 9.0 

Total 

Holiday 9,048 10,323 10,987 10,803 10,475 -328 -3.0 3.7 


Business 4,985 5,763 6,095 6,347 6,882 535 8.4 8.4 



All visits 20,794 23,537 25,163 25,515 25,745 230 0.9 5.5 


2.08 Spending by mode of travel and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 



Average 

Annual 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (million) (%) (%) 

Air 

Holiday 3,132 3,472 3,583 3,414 3,404 -10 -0.3 2.1 


Business 2,392 2,979 2,968 3,208 3,544 336 10.5 10.3 

Visiting friends or relatives 1,345 1,422 1,547 1,599 1,577 -22 -1.4 4.1 


All visits 8,209 9,628 9,922 9,900 10,366 466 4.7 6.0 

Sea 

Holiday 815 820 861 756 677 -79 -10.4 -4.5 


Business 167 143 143 114 114 0 0.0 -9.1 


Miscellaneous 385 384 398 301 336 35 11.6 -3.3 

All visits 1,576 1,590 1,601 1,360 1,399 39 2.9 -2.9 

Tunnel 

Holiday 0 275 404 385 407 22 5.7 


Business 1 98 109 178 162 -16 -9.0 

Visiting friends or relatives 0 74 97 155 124 -31 -20.0 

Miscellaneous 0 97 156 264 213 -51 -19.3 

All visits 1 544 768 983 906 -77 -7.8 

Total 

Holiday 3,947 4,567 4,848 4,555 4,488 -67 -1.5 3.3 

of which inclusive tour 966 1,215 1,149 1,009 940 -69 -6.8 -0.7 

Business 2,559 3,219 3,220 3,501 3,820 319 9.1 10.5 



All visits 9,786 11,763 12,290 12,244 12,671 427 3.5 6.7 

37 

: 2


38 

2.09 Number of visits by country of residence 1994 to 1998 

Average 

Annual 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (000s) (%) (%) 

Canada 562 609 595 667 673 6 0.9 4.6 

USA 2,907 3,146 3,080 3,432 3,880 448 13.1 7.5 

North America 3,469 3,756 3,675 4,099 4,553 454 11.1 7.0 

Austria 239 255 259 218 242 24 11.0 0.3 

Belgium 975 1,296 1,554 1,345 1,183 -162 -12.0 5.0 

Denmark 330 327 445 415 433 18 4.3 7.0 

Finland 102 123 143 144 145 1 0.7 9.2 

France 2,762 3,184 3,690 3,586 3,274 -312 -8.7 4.3 

Germany 2,503 2,654 2,963 2,911 2,830 -81 -2.8 3.1 

Greece 164 166 184 155 195 40 25.8 4.4 

Irish Republic 1,677 1,988 2,078 2,232 2,310 78 3.5 8.3 

Italy 818 924 924 990 1,090 100 10.1 7.4 

Luxembourg 55 47 55 58 60 2 3.4 2.2 

Netherlands 1,188 1,408 1,539 1,653 1,718 65 3.9 9.7 

Portugal 141 157 161 154 177 23 14.9 5.8 

Spain 675 772 807 825 879 54 6.5 6.8 

Sweden 514 552 639 616 676 60 9.7 7.1 

EU Europe 12,144 13,852 15,441 15,300 15,212 -88 -0.6 5.8 

Cyprus 75 90 77 88 74 -14 -15.9 -0.3 

Gibraltar 15 15 20 23 20 -3 -13.0 7.5 

Iceland 37 25 50 44 75 31 70.5 19.3 

Malta 65 65 53 52 42 -10 -19.2 -10.3 

Norway 334 427 406 453 509 56 12.4 11.1 

Switzerland 469 541 578 567 583 16 2.8 5.6 

Turkey 52 75 86 89 75 -14 -15.7 9.6 

Central & Eastern Europe* 377 465 601 469 493 24 5.1 6.9 

Former USSR 163 189 253 245 249 4 1.6 11.2 

Former Yugoslavia 35 46 50 58 50 -8 -13.8 9.3 

Non EU Europe 1,622 1,938 2,174 2,090 2,171 81 3.9 7.6 

North Africa 72 92 68 92 86 -6 -6.5 4.5 

South Africa 254 243 240 262 284 22 8.4 2.8 

Rest of Africa 263 256 238 225 246 21 9.3 -1.7 

Israel 205 252 241 252 198 -54 -21.4 -0.9 

Other Middle East 387 377 356 377 374 -3 -0.8 -0.9 

Hong Kong 148 169 189 167 165 -2 -1.2 2.8 

India 125 163 141 184 175 -9 -4.9 8.8 

Japan 578 619 584 570 545 -25 -4.4 -1.5 

Rest of Asia 517 729 686 647 456 -191 -29.5 -3.1 

Australia 552 607 650 684 603 -81 -11.8 2.2 

New Zealand 106 131 132 148 166 18 12.2 11.9 

Caribbean* 57 65 62 77 95 18 23.4 13.6 

Central & South America* 289 281 279 334 404 70 21.0 8.7 

Rest of the World* 6 8 7 7 12 5 71.4 18.9 

Other Countries 3,559 3,991 3,872 4,027 3,809 -218 -5.4 1.7 

Total World 20,794 23,537 25,163 25,515 25,745 230 0.9 5.5 


2.10 Spending by country of residence 1994 to 1998 



Average 

Annual 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (£million) (%) (%) 

Canada 263 293 307 351 319 -32 -9.1 4.9 

USA 1,760 1,979 1,970 2,164 2,482 318 14.7 9.0 

North America 2,022 2,272 2,277 2,515 2,801 286 11.4 8.5 

Austria 94 120 134 94 101 7 7.4 1.8 

Belgium 197 250 261 217 225 8 3.7 3.4 

Denmark 100 116 161 169 163 -6 -3.6 13.0 

Finland 39 69 135 70 66 -4 -5.7 14.1 

France 469 663 708 649 750 101 15.6 12.5 

Germany 783 967 1,068 1,071 882 -189 -17.6 3.0 

Greece 114 130 140 152 157 5 3.3 8.3 

Irish Republic 581 879 940 856 824 -32 -3.7 9.1 

Italy 401 483 476 471 555 84 17.8 8.5 

Luxembourg 24 23 16 21 27 6 28.6 3.0 

Netherlands 294 364 390 409 407 -2 -0.5 8.5 

Portugal 65 94 77 70 94 24 34.3 9.7 

Spain 313 345 456 380 384 4 1.1 5.2 

Sweden 194 251 290 263 310 47 17.9 12.4 

EU Europe 3,744 4,831 5,335 4,979 5,044 65 1.3 7.7 

Cyprus 48 59 50 72 56 -16 -22.2 3.9 

Gibraltar 5 7 16 13 12 -1 -7.7 24.5 

Iceland 23 16 37 41 38 -3 -7.3 13.4 

Malta 33 34 23 26 24 -2 -7.7 -7.7 

Norway 142 186 193 196 218 22 11.2 11.3 

Switzerland 237 294 333 286 287 1 0.3 4.9 

Turkey 39 68 76 75 71 -4 -5.3 16.2 


Former USSR 153 153 195 228 276 48 21.1 15.9 

Former Yugoslavia 32 30 35 60 27 -33 -55.0 -4.2 

Non EU Europe 850 1,013 1,154 1,194 1,259 65 5.4 10.3 

North Africa 103 95 101 187 149 -38 -20.3 9.7 

South Africa 226 189 180 202 216 14 6.9 -1.1 

Rest of Africa 282 284 320 287 373 86 30.0 7.2 

Israel 141 152 122 136 113 -23 -16.9 -5.4 

Other Middle East 548 597 486 545 515 -30 -5.5 -1.5 

Hong Kong 153 159 202 175 135 -40 -22.9 -3.1 

India 102 124 90 127 140 13 10.2 8.2 

Japan 405 539 439 361 429 68 18.8 1.4 

Rest of Asia 460 672 654 580 512 -68 -11.7 2.7 

Australia 380 451 502 525 424 -101 -19.2 2.8 

New Zealand 77 101 104 107 120 13 12.1 11.7 

Caribbean* 98 60 48 61 89 28 45.9 -2.4 



Other Countries 3,169 3,647 3,525 3,555 3,566 11 0.3 3.0 

Total World 9,786 11,763 12,290 12,244 12,671 427 3.5 6.7 

39 

: 2


40 

2.11 Number of nights and average length of stay by country of residence 1994 to 1998 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

Canada 7,354 8,074 8,266 8,876 8,584 13 13 14 13 13 

USA 28,099 28,477 28,092 30,691 33,788 10 9 9 9 9 

North America 35,452 36,551 36,358 39,567 42,371 10 10 10 10 9 

Austria 1,911 1,995 2,351 2,162 1,916 8 8 9 10 8 

Belgium 3,277 3,557 3,765 3,640 3,474 3 3 2 3 3 

Denmark 1,851 2,366 2,618 2,762 2,674 6 7 6 7 6 

Finland 773 1,169 1,735 1,231 1,303 8 10 12 9 9 

France 14,497 17,870 18,514 17,071 18,010 5 6 5 5 6 

Germany 18,851 21,962 21,454 21,028 18,901 8 8 7 7 7 

Greece 1,920 2,018 2,453 2,306 2,085 12 12 13 15 11 

Irish Republic 13,752 15,355 15,528 16,619 17,243 8 8 7 7 8 

Italy 8,968 10,710 10,188 9,627 12,442 11 12 11 10 11 

Luxembourg 266 272 283 234 303 5 6 5 4 5 

Netherlands 5,811 6,536 6,460 7,644 7,335 5 5 4 5 4 

Portugal 1,020 1,336 1,289 1,173 1,613 7 9 8 8 9 

Spain 7,490 10,867 11,637 10,776 10,201 11 14 14 13 12 

Sweden 3,182 3,851 4,423 4,061 5,145 6 7 7 7 8 

EU Europe 83,569 99,863 102,699 100,333 102,645 7 7 7 7 7 

Cyprus 1,156 1,434 1,286 1,755 927 15 16 17 20 13 

Gibraltar 96 177 210 189 122 6 12 10 8 6 

Iceland 201 172 371 402 449 5 7 7 9 6 

Malta 652 647 390 500 458 10 10 7 10 11 

Norway 2,056 2,707 2,579 2,261 2,474 6 6 6 5 5 

Switzerland 3,394 3,837 4,543 4,132 3,963 7 7 8 7 7 

Turkey 635 1,267 1,449 1,288 1,051 12 17 17 14 14 

Central & Eastern Europe* 6,417 9,270 7,091 7,409 8,162 17 20 12 16 17 

Former USSR 2,393 2,677 3,323 3,676 3,798 15 14 13 15 15 

Former Yugoslavia 643 697 1,079 954 652 18 15 21 16 13 

Non EU Europe 17,643 22,885 22,321 22,567 22,057 11 12 10 11 10 

North Africa 1,451 1,771 1,179 1,768 2,104 20 19 17 19 24 

South Africa 4,328 3,748 3,687 4,542 4,587 17 15 15 17 16 

Rest of Africa 5,204 5,368 4,567 4,252 5,392 20 21 19 19 22 

Israel 1,889 2,139 1,884 1,851 1,371 9 8 8 7 7 

Other Middle East 6,709 6,426 5,377 6,460 5,784 17 17 15 17 16 

Hong Kong 2,199 2,370 2,382 2,185 1,629 15 14 13 13 10 

India 2,477 2,505 2,509 3,266 3,563 20 15 18 18 20 

Japan 4,913 6,636 5,305 4,937 6,992 9 11 9 9 13 

Rest of Asia 7,437 10,190 8,976 9,936 9,088 14 14 13 15 20 

Australia 11,094 11,584 13,126 12,876 11,292 20 19 20 19 19 

New Zealand 2,616 3,348 3,379 2,837 4,397 25 26 26 19 27 

Caribbean* 1,656 1,563 1,442 1,267 2,057 29 24 23 16 22 

Central & South America* 3,035 3,214 4,373 3,763 5,320 11 11 16 11 13 

Rest of the World* 143 172 199 119 127 24 22 30 17 11 

Other Countries 55,152 61,036 58,386 60,060 63,703 16 15 15 15 17 

Total World 191,816 220,335 219,764 222,527 230,777 9 9 9 9 9 




2.12 Average spending per visit and spending per day by country of residence 1994 to 1998 


1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

Canada 465 479 514 525 472 36 36 37 39 37 

USA 604 627 638 629 638 62 69 70 70 73 

North America 581 603 618 612 614 57 62 62 63 66 

Austria 393 469 515 428 418 49 60 57 43 53 

Belgium 202 192 168 161 190 60 70 69 59 65 

Denmark 303 355 360 407 376 54 49 61 61 61 

Finland 381 563 943 484 453 50 59 77 57 50 

France 169 208 192 181 229 32 37 38 38 42 

Germany 312 364 360 368 311 41 44 50 51 47 

Greece 696 780 760 976 802 59 64 57 66 75 

Irish Republic 346 442 452 384 357 42 57 61 52 48 

Italy 490 523 514 475 509 45 45 47 49 45 

Luxembourg 434 494 295 364 447 90 85 57 89 88 

Netherlands 247 258 253 247 237 51 56 60 53 55 

Portugal 458 594 478 450 533 63 70 60 59 58 

Spain 463 446 563 460 436 42 32 39 35 38 

Sweden 377 454 452 427 458 61 65 65 65 60 

EU Europe 302 343 340 319 325 44 48 51 49 48 

Cyprus 646 654 653 817 757 42 41 39 41 60 

Gibraltar 334 472 811 573 569 53 40 78 69 95 

Iceland 616 639 724 929 499 114 92 99 102 84 

Malta 505 530 429 504 572 50 53 58 53 53 

Norway 424 433 475 430 426 69 68 75 86 88 

Switzerland 502 543 575 504 491 69 77 73 69 72 

Turkey 761 913 878 838 940 62 54 52 58 67 

Central & Eastern Europe* 365 354 326 416 509 21 18 28 26 31 

Former USSR 937 813 768 930 1,107 64 57 59 62 72 

Former Yugoslavia 919 646 694 1,038 544 50 42 32 63 42 

Non EU Europe 523 522 530 570 579 48 44 52 53 57 

North Africa 1,414 1,031 1,496 2,026 1,719 70 54 86 106 71 

South Africa 886 776 745 767 754 52 50 49 44 47 

Rest of Africa 1,070 1,106 1,335 1,269 1,512 54 53 70 67 69 

Israel 686 597 506 537 569 75 70 65 73 82 


Hong Kong 1,030 941 1,067 1,044 817 69 67 85 80 83 

India 807 754 637 687 795 41 49 36 39 39 

Japan 700 871 751 633 786 82 81 83 73 61 

Rest of Asia 882 921 952 895 1,121 61 66 73 58 56 

Australia 686 743 771 765 703 34 39 38 41 38 

New Zealand 727 772 790 723 721 29 30 31 38 27 

Caribbean* 1,720 929 778 785 931 59 38 33 48 43 

Central & South America* 662 768 945 773 849 63 67 60 69 64 

Rest of the World* 562 754 1,793 752 723 23 34 60 44 66 

Other Countries 888 911 908 881 934 57 60 60 59 56 

Total World 466 495 484 475 487 51 53 55 55 54 

41 

: 2


42 

2.13 Number of visits and spending by length of stay and main area of residence 1994 to 1998 

Visits (thousands) 

Spending (£million) 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

Nil nights 

North America 26 40 43 41 45 6 11 11 11 12 

EU Europe 1,487 1,665 2,098 2,118 1,832 79 95 103 90 88 

Non EU Europe 56 70 54 102 110 7 7 6 12 13 


Total World 1,601 1,819 2,228 2,301 2,036 107 129 133 127 127 

1-3 nights 

North America 998 1,168 1,103 1,288 1,388 248 309 306 354 405 

EU Europe 3,757 4,465 5,174 5,024 5,174 779 1,015 1,204 1,193 1,144 

Non EU Europe 530 670 791 697 888 186 215 264 256 279 


Total World 6,352 7,531 8,258 8,198 8,482 1,591 1,983 2,168 2,227 2,208 

4-13 nights 

North America 1,663 1,749 1,768 1,942 2,254 1,007 1,059 1,126 1,254 1,463 

EU Europe 3,912 4,173 4,505 4,485 4,485 1,301 1,541 1,661 1,600 1,550 

Non EU Europe 691 789 933 893 839 336 443 468 458 449 

Other Countries 1,357 1,514 1,484 1,567 1,502 1,085 1,227 1,238 1,200 1,152 

Total World 7,623 8,225 8,690 8,887 9,080 3,729 4,271 4,493 4,512 4,614 

14-27 nights 

North America 588 594 562 604 626 486 492 471 509 499 

EU Europe 970 1,097 1,132 1,003 992 534 634 648 546 531 

Non EU Europe 224 251 235 233 187 135 160 192 191 145 


Total World 2,365 2,586 2,576 2,524 2,461 1,790 2,025 2,019 1,994 1,870 

28 nights or more 

North America 195 205 199 224 240 274 401 364 386 422 

EU Europe 342 464 455 437 420 394 590 696 605 808 

Non EU Europe 121 158 160 164 147 185 189 222 276 373 

Other Countries 517 561 519 548 571 1,059 1,220 1,174 1,171 1,324 

Total World 1,175 1,387 1,332 1,373 1,377 1,913 2,399 2,455 2,439 2,928 

All visits 

North America 3,469 3,756 3,675 4,099 4,553 2,022 2,272 2,277 2,515 2,801 

EU Europe 12,144 13,852 15,441 15,300 15,212 3,744 4,831 5,335 4,979 5,044 

Non EU Europe 1,622 1,938 2,174 2,090 2,171 850 1,013 1,154 1,194 1,259 


Total World 20,794 23,537 25,163 25,515 25,745 9,786 11,763 12,290 12,244 12,671 




2.14 Number of visits and spending by length of stay and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

Nil nights 

Holiday 822 832 969 941 735 24 32 34 27 31 


Business 558 702 841 867 953 30 40 46 45 47 



All visits 1,601 1,819 2,228 2,301 2,036 107 129 133 127 127 

1-3 nights 

Holiday 2,400 3,104 3,401 3,145 3,148 569 733 837 726 731 

of which inclusive tour 1,172 1,506 1,561 1,391 1,266 238 331 357 290 265 

Business 2,338 2,599 2,734 2,824 3,125 740 824 889 959 1,073 

Visiting friends or relatives 686 836 960 1,060 1,078 113 161 164 202 197 

Miscellaneous 928 992 1,162 1,168 1,130 169 265 278 339 206 

All visits 6,352 7,531 8,258 8,198 8,482 1,591 1,983 2,168 2,227 2,208 

4-13 nights 

Holiday 4,020 4,381 4,574 4,604 4,547 1,872 2,084 2,164 2,095 2,128 


Business 1,342 1,534 1,553 1,620 1,733 1,062 1,317 1,306 1,367 1,451 

Visiting friends or relatives 1,860 1,824 2,039 2,123 2,314 537 599 688 689 722 


All visits 7,623 8,225 8,690 8,887 9,080 3,729 4,271 4,493 4,512 4,614 

14-27 nights 

Holiday 1,020 1,118 1,176 1,193 1,109 768 884 933 924 807 


Business 181 210 200 207 212 236 335 307 330 369 



All visits 2,365 2,586 2,576 2,524 2,461 1,790 2,025 2,019 1,994 1,870 


Holiday 318 347 323 338 335 464 492 520 442 448 


Business 93 128 114 122 129 312 427 357 513 603 


Miscellaneous 366 459 484 469 482 763 1,092 1,183 1,031 1,391 

All visits 1,175 1,387 1,332 1,373 1,377 1,913 2,399 2,455 2,439 2,928 

All Visits 

Holiday 9,048 10,323 10,987 10,803 10,475 3,947 4,566 4,848 4,555 4,488 

of which inclusive tour 2,764 3,217 3,362 3,076 2,824 966 1,215 1,149 1,009 940 

Business 4,986 5,763 6,095 6,347 6,882 2,560 3,219 3,220 3,501 3,820 

Visiting friends or relatives 4,278 4,602 4,898 5,155 5,400 1,551 1,739 1,841 1,941 1,970 

Miscellaneous 2,482 2,849 3,182 3,209 2,988 1,706 2,214 2,357 2,223 2,392 

All visits 20,794 23,537 25,163 25,515 25,745 9,786 11,763 12,290 12,244 12,671 

43 

: 2


44 

2.15 Number of visits and spending by region of visit and main area of residence 1994 to 1998 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

London 

North America 2,291 2,578 2,423 2,693 2,976 1,108 1,275 1,291 1,423 1,602 

EU Europe 4,545 5,215 5,709 5,474 5,458 1,467 1,833 2,016 1,942 1,941 

Non EU Europe 917 1,176 1,299 1,204 1,167 415 601 596 639 678 


Total World 10,373 11,905 12,266 12,284 12,269 4,883 5,860 6,007 5,993 6,293 

Other England 

North America 1,563 1,671 1,624 1,779 1,993 574 667 665 738 828 

EU Europe 4,412 5,029 5,450 5,253 5,401 1,218 1,540 1,736 1,572 1,665 

Non EU Europe 703 834 930 866 898 360 344 454 448 482 


Total World 8,041 9,097 9,540 9,554 9,873 3,152 3,747 3,991 4,033 4,175 

Total England 

North America 3,177 3,531 3,409 3,790 4,211 1,682 1,942 1,956 2,161 2,430 

EU Europe 8,332 9,538 10,361 10,037 10,203 2,684 3,374 3,751 3,514 3,606 

Non EU Europe 1,468 1,795 2,004 1,890 1,903 775 944 1,049 1,086 1,160 


Total World 16,402 18,713 19,503 19,606 19,944 8,035 9,607 9,998 10,026 10,468 

Scotland 

North America 567 531 536 572 606 270 254 249 267 299 

EU Europe 604 729 781 778 799 211 283 327 280 318 

Non EU Europe 112 134 157 161 174 50 44 80 73 71 


Total World 1,615 1,766 1,837 1,912 1,947 717 774 839 799 882 

Wales 

North America 181 180 182 200 203 39 40 39 47 37 

EU Europe 281 303 371 418 312 74 82 85 79 53 

Non EU Europe 31 48 44 42 43 8 8 10 16 11 


Total World 627 668 760 840 718 177 182 198 210 164 

All Areas 

North America 3,469 3,756 3,675 4,099 4,553 2,017 2,264 2,270 2,508 2,793 

EU Europe 10,467 11,864 13,363 13,068 12,902 3,083 3,869 4,305 4,028 4,115 

Non EU Europe 1,622 1,938 2,174 2,091 2,168 848 1,012 1,152 1,193 1,258 


Total World 19,117 21,549 23,085 23,283 23,435 9,106 10,783 11,244 11,275 11,723 


2.16 Number of visits and spending by region and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 





1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

London 

Holiday 5,458 6,422 6,520 6,402 6,194 2,249 2,661 2,723 2,526 2,472 


Business 2,171 2,462 2,479 2,546 2,725 1,393 1,742 1,703 1,758 2,080 


Miscellaneous 1,140 1,261 1,390 1,376 1,289 678 839 907 975 1,007 

All visits 10,373 11,905 12,266 12,284 12,269 4,883 5,860 6,007 5,993 6,293 

Other England 

Holiday 2,815 3,281 3,469 3,366 3,332 911 1,016 1,154 1,062 1,051 


Business 1,920 2,236 2,311 2,361 2,622 792 974 982 1,210 1,184 


Miscellaneous 1,006 1,153 1,224 1,157 1,182 763 1,008 1,091 923 1,076 

All visits 8,041 9,097 9,540 9,554 9,873 3,152 3,747 3,991 4,033 4,175 

Total England 

Holiday 7,286 8,532 8,872 8,685 8,454 3,160 3,677 3,877 3,588 3,522 

of which inclusive tour 2,662 3,127 3,218 2,947 2,678 850 1,035 1,027 875 801 

Business 3,678 4,232 4,318 4,457 4,894 2,185 2,716 2,685 2,968 3,264 



All visits 16,402 18,713 19,503 19,606 19,944 8,035 9,607 9,998 10,026 10,468 

Scotland 

Holiday 960 1,049 1,086 1,110 1,149 394 403 456 448 489 


Business 217 256 255 292 299 100 127 109 140 171 



All visits 1,615 1,766 1,837 1,912 1,947 717 774 839 799 882 

Wales 

Holiday 333 340 400 426 366 73 76 80 97 63 


Business 93 92 103 124 99 45 29 46 37 37 



All visits 627 668 760 840 718 177 182 198 210 164 

All Areas 

Holiday 8,579 9,785 10,446 10,222 9,874 3,697 4,225 4,493 4,213 4,146 

of which inclusive tour 2,764 3,218 3,365 3,076 2,824 966 1,138 1,154 1,009 940 

Business 4,511 5,173 5,441 5,641 6,151 2,380 2,946 2,907 3,214 3,544 



All visits 19,117 21,549 23,085 23,283 23,435 9,106 10,783 11,244 11,275 11,723 

45 

: 2


46 46 



UK residents’ visits 1994-1998 : 3 

Chapter 3 

UK residents’ visits abroad 

1994 to 1998 

millions 

55 

45 

35 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

47

3 : UK residents’ visits 1994-1998 

3.01 Visits by year and quarter 

by UK residents 

millions 

48 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

3.02 Annual growth in spending 

per cent 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

3.03 Spending by year and quarter 

in 1995 constant prices 

£ billions 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

0 

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 



Chapter 3 

UK residents’ visits abroad 1994 to 1998 

This chapter concentrates on the shorter-term trends of UK residents 

travelling abroad between 1994 and 1998; when the number of visits 

rose from 39.6 million in 1994 to 50.9 million in 1998, an average 

growth rate of six per cent per year. 

Over the same period spending by UK residents abroad rose from 

£14.4 billion to £19.5 billion, an average growth rate of eight per cent 

per year. The growth rates of both of these series have been much 

higher between 1997 and 1998 than in the earlier part of the period 

from 1994. 

Visits, nights and spending by quarter 

Table 3.01 shows the number of visits made and nights spent by UK 

residents abroad, broken down by the time of year of travel. For 

visits, both non-seasonally adjusted and seasonally adjusted figures 

are given, along with the percentage growth from the same quarter in 

the previous year. 

The clear seasonal pattern in the number of visits made abroad is 

shown in figure 3.01. The underlying trend, a steady increase in the 

earlier years followed by more rapid growth, is clearly shown by the 

inclusion of the seasonally adjusted figures. Seasonally adjusted 

quarterly visits rose from 9.4 million at the start of 1994 to a record 

13.1 million at the end of 1998. The highest number of visits were 

made during the summer months (quarter three) and the lowest 

number during the winter months (quarter one). The number of nights 

spent abroad followed a similar pattern to visits. 

Spending by UK residents abroad between 1994 and 1998 is shown 

in table 3.02; both current prices and 1995 constant prices are given. 

Figure 3.02 shows the annual growth in spending over the past five 

years, with 15 per cent annual growth being recorded in 1998 

compared to 1997. Constant price spending over time is shown in 

figure 3.03. Consistently high levels of spending have been recorded 

from quarter four in 1996, probably due to the relative strength of the 

pound in the last few years compared to that of foreign currencies. 

Visits and spending by main area and purpose of visit 

Details of both visits and spending to the different areas of the world 

by purpose of visit are given in tables 3.03 and 3.04. These tables 

also show the average annual growth rates between 1994 and 1998. 

Table 3.03 shows that between 1994 and 1998 there was a growth in 


the number of UK residents’ visits abroad to all major regions of the 

world. The largest growth was in visits to North America and to ‘Other 

Countries’, averaging nine per cent per year since 1994, compared to 

the overall average growth rate of six per cent. 

The largest growth by purpose of visit was for those travelling on 

miscellaneous purposes, which increased by an average of 17 per 

cent per year between 1994 and 1998. 

Average stay and spending by purpose of visit 

The number of nights spent by UK residents’ abroad between 1994 

and 1998 is shown in table 3.05, together with the average length of 

stay. The rise in the number of nights spent abroad over this period 

was less pronounced than the rise in the number of visits. This was 

due to the average length of stay of UK residents’ visits abroad 

dropping from 11.3 nights in 1994 to 10.0 nights by 1998. 

Table 3.06 shows average spending per visit and spending per day 

by area and purpose of visit. Overall, average spending per visit rose 

by nearly six per cent between 1994 and 1998 from £362 to £383 

whilst average spending per day increased by 19 per cent from £32 

to £38. Visits for miscellaneous purposes showed the highest growth, 

with the average spending rising from £27 to £40 per day. On business 

trips, the average daily spending increased from £72 to £91. 

The effects of the falling average length of stay and the increasing 

amount of spending can be seen by comparing figures 3.04, 3.05 

and 3.06. These figures show the average length of stay, average 

spending per visit and average spending per day by purpose of visit 

for 1994, 1996 and 1998. Figure 3.04 shows there was a fall in the 

average length of stay from 1994 to 1998 for all of the four purposes 

of visits shown. Figure 3.05 shows that the largest growth in average 

spending per visit was recorded for business visits. Spending per 

visit for other purposes remained relatively static over the same period. 

This was mainly due to the fairly even growth of visits and spending. 

The combined effects of these changes resulted in a rise in the average 

daily spending, which is evident in figure 3.06. 


The breakdown of UK residents’ visits abroad and spending by mode 

of travel and purpose of visit is shown in tables 3.07 and 3.08. 

Between 1994 and 1998 visits abroad by air rose by six per cent per 




by purpose and year 

nights 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

Holiday Business VFR Misc 

1994 1996 1998 

3.05 Average spending per visit 


£ 

600 

450 

300 

150 

0 


1994 1996 1998 

3.06 Average spending per day 


£ 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 


1994 1996 1998 

49


3.07 Visits by sea and tunnel 

by year 

millions 

50 

18 

12 

6 

0 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

Sea Tunnel 

3.08 Change in number of visits 94-98 

by country of visit 

millions 

-1 0 1 2 3 

France 

Spain 


USA 

Belgium 

Austria 

Greece 

year on average, but the proportion of total visits accounted for by air 

travel fell from 70 per cent to 67 per cent having increased a little 

from 66 per cent in 1997. Whilst the number of visits by sea fell only 

slightly over the same period, the proportion of total visits accounted 

for by sea travel fell from 30 per cent to 21 per cent. Figure 3.07 

shows the number of visits by UK residents’ abroad by sea and tunnel. 

Traffic through the tunnel has grown since its opening in 1994 and 

accounted for 12 per cent of all UK residents’ visits abroad in 1998. 

Looking in detail at the growth in tunnel traffic between 1997 and 

1998, it can be seen that large increases were noted in the number of 

business visits, up by 75 per cent, and in the number of package 

holiday trips, which had doubled in number. The pattern of change 

for spending was broadly similar to that for visits. 

Visits and spending by country of visit 

Tables 3.09 to 3.10 show the breakdown of visits and spending by 

UK residents by country of visit between 1994 and 1998. 

France was the most popular destination for UK residents travelling 

abroad between 1994 and 1998 with an average annual rise in visits 

of six per cent (table 3.09). However, from 1997 to 1998 the rise in 

visits to France was just three per cent compared to the rise of 13 per 

cent between 1996 and 1997. 

The countries accounting for the largest increases in the number of 

visits abroad between 1994 and 1998 are shown in figure 3.08. After 

France, the largest numbers of visits by UK residents over the period 

were made to Spain, the Irish Republic and the USA. In this same 

period the number of visits to Greece fell, though 350,000 more visits 

were made to that country in 1998 than in 1997. 

Visits by UK residents have increased most in percentage terms to 

destinations further afield. The largest such increase being in visits 

to Central and South America, which rose by 42 per cent between 

1997 and 1998 and contributed to an average annual growth rate of 

36 per cent per year since 1994. The bulk of this growth was in 

holiday visits to Mexico. The number of visits in 1998 to the former 

states of Yugoslavia show a large percentage increase over the 1994 

figure, but the level is still only a fifth of that in 1990. 

The highest increase in expenditure was shown on visits to the USA, 

with spending in 1998 up over £1 billion from the 1994 level. 


Average stay and spending by country of visit 

Tables 3.11 and 3.12 show the breakdown of the number of nights 

spent abroad by UK residents, together with their average length of 

stay, average spending per visit and average spending per day. The 

shortest visits throughout the period were made to Belgium, averaging 

three days, and to France and the Netherlands, both averaging under 

five days. These low averages were due to a high proportion of day 

trips being made to these countries, with a third of visits to Belgium 

being day trips. 

The longest visits were made to destinations further afield; visits over 

the period 1994 to 1998 to Australia and New Zealand averaged over 

45 nights in length. These countries also accounted for spending of 

£1,000 per visit on average, the highest recorded levels over the period. 

The lowest levels of spending were made on visits to nearby EU 

countries, with an average of less than £250 spent on visits to France, 

the Irish Republic and Benelux countries. 


The last two tables in this section (tables 3.13 and 3.14) break down 

UK residents’ visits and spending abroad by length of stay. Information 

on length of stay is not available for visits to the Irish Republic; hence 

figures shown for the individual lengths of stay do not sum to the 

totals in these two tables. 

The largest levels of growth between 1994 and 1998 have occurred 

in the number of day trips and short breaks taken, that is, visits lasting 

less than four nights (figure 3.09). There has been an average annual 

growth of 12 per cent in these short visits abroad. There has also 

thought been growth in the number of longer visits made; this growth 

rate has averaged four per cent per annum since 1994. The largest 

growth in visits lasting 4 to 27 nights, predominantly holiday visits, 

has been to those destinations further afield (figure 3.10). 

From the tables it can be seen, that there was a fall in the number of 

day trips taken this year, from the record five million visits made in 

1997. However, these day visitors increased their spending per trip 

from £67 per visit in 1997 to £87 in 1998. This contributed to an 

increase in spending on day trips of 25 per cent. Between 1997 and 

1998 there was a large growth in the number of visits lasting from 4 to 

13 nights. The majority of these additional longer trips were holiday 

visits. 



3.09 Average annual growth of visits 

by duration of stay 1994 - 1998 

per cent 

15 

10 

5 

0 

Nil 

nights 

North 

America 

1 to 3 

nights 

EU 

Europe 

4 to 13 

nights 

14 to 27 

nights 

3.10 Average annual growth of visits 

lasting 4-27 nights 1994 - 1998 

per cent 

15 

10 

5 

0 

Non EU 

Europe 

28 nights 

or more 

Other 

countries 

51


52 

3.01 Visits and nights by quarter of year 1994 to 1998 

Visits (thousands) Nights (thousands) 

not seasonally per cent change seasonally not seasonally per cent change 

Quarter adjusted from year earlier adjusted adjusted from year earlier 

1994 1 6,770 2.4 9,430 73,948 5.4 

2 10,441 10.8 9,870 111,996 6.0 

3 13,894 7.8 10,130 179,835 4.2 

4 8,524 9.3 10,200 80,816 1.8 

1995 1 7,185 6.1 9,980 74,062 0.2 

2 10,993 5.3 10,260 115,730 3.3 

3 14,028 1.0 10,410 177,072 -1.5 

4 9,140 7.2 10,690 83,928 3.9 

1996 1 7,531 4.8 10,210 84,450 14.0 

2 10,743 -2.3 10,120 110,961 -4.1 

3 13,889 -1.0 10,420 169,623 -4.2 

4 9,888 8.2 11,300 84,743 1.0 

1997 1 8,153 8.3 11,000 84,549 0.1 

2 11,889 10.7 11,240 115,836 4.4 

3 15,181 9.3 11,470 177,166 4.4 

4 10,734 8.6 12,250 85,975 1.5 

1998 1 9,178 12.6 12,480 88,998 5.3 

2 13,242 11.4 12,520 130,569 12.7 

3 16,974 11.8 12,810 191,054 7.8 

4 11,479 6.9 13,060 98,586 14.7 


3.02 Spending at current and 1995 constant prices by quarter of year 1994 to 1998 



Spending (£ million) Constant price spending (£ million) 

not seasonally per cent change seasonally not seasonally per cent change seasonally 

Quarter adjusted from year earlier adjusted adjusted from year earlier adjusted 

1994 1 2,553 16.1 3,510 2,678 25.8 3,620 

2 3,514 9.5 3,530 3,657 11.9 3,660 

3 5,353 10.0 3,620 5,500 8.9 3,780 

4 2,945 9.2 3,720 3,017 10.2 3,800 

1995 1 2,653 3.9 3,600 2,748 2.6 3,670 

2 3,946 12.3 3,960 3,973 8.6 3,960 

3 5,553 3.7 3,870 5,503 0.1 3,850 

4 3,234 9.8 3,950 3,162 4.8 3,920 

1996 1 3,064 15.5 4,020 2,955 7.5 3,860 

2 3,962 0.4 3,920 3,810 -4.1 3,750 

3 5,681 2.3 3,980 5,516 0.2 3,870 

4 3,516 8.7 4,290 3,616 14.4 4,420 

1997 1 3,129 2.1 4,050 3,333 12.8 4,340 

2 4,266 7.7 4,230 4,640 21.8 4,590 

3 5,899 3.8 4,190 6,607 19.8 4,730 

4 3,637 3.4 4,460 4,072 12.6 5,000 

1998 1 3,646 16.5 4,800 4,151 24.5 5,430 

2 4,885 14.5 4,730 5,513 18.8 5,380 

3 6,617 12.2 4,800 7,448 12.7 5,380 

4 4,341 19.3 5,160 4,735 16.3 5,660 

53


54 

3.03 Number of visits by main area and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 

Average 

Annual 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (000s) (%) (%) 

North America 

Holiday 1,768 1,957 2,267 2,244 2,591 347 15.5 10.0 


Business 531 573 668 646 771 125 19.3 9.8 



All visits 2,927 3,120 3,584 3,594 4,158 564 15.7 9.2 

EU Europe 

Holiday 20,519 21,225 19,428 21,594 23,510 1,916 8.9 3.5 

of which inclusive tour 11,249 11,414 9,570 11,043 12,328 1,285 11.6 2.3 

Business 4,058 4,489 5,034 5,226 5,878 652 12.5 9.7 



All visits 29,379 31,081 30,591 33,952 37,237 3,285 9.7 6.1 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 2,807 2,418 2,593 2,684 3,058 374 13.9 2.2 

of which inclusive tour 2,063 1,772 1,955 1,981 2,203 222 11.2 1.7 

Business 527 534 570 636 725 89 14.0 8.3 



All visits 3,717 3,337 3,622 3,793 4,315 522 13.8 3.8 


Holiday 2,095 2,208 2,477 2,616 3,147 531 20.3 10.7 


Business 498 517 608 659 657 -2 -0.3 7.2 

Visiting friends or relatives 903 929 1,004 1,155 1,179 24 2.1 6.9 


All visits 3,608 3,808 4,253 4,618 5,163 545 11.8 9.4 

Total World 

Holiday 27,188 27,807 26,765 29,138 32,306 3,168 10.9 4.4 


Business 5,613 6,113 6,879 7,166 8,033 867 12.1 9.4 



All visits 39,630 41,345 42,050 45,957 50,872 4,915 10.7 6.4 


3.04 Spending by main area and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 



Average 

Annual 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (£million) (%) (%) 

North America 

Holiday 1,289 1,359 1,713 1,747 1,998 251 14.4 11.6 


Business 461 576 662 604 815 211 34.9 15.3 



All visits 2,033 2,229 2,698 2,713 3,239 526 19.4 12.3 

EU Europe 

Holiday 6,217 6,577 6,033 6,492 7,157 665 10.2 3.6 


Business 1,311 1,495 1,638 1,702 2,014 312 18.3 11.3 



All visits 8,397 9,059 8,806 9,451 10,653 1,202 12.7 6.1 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 1,080 950 1,028 1,011 1,086 75 7.4 0.1 

of which inclusive tour 802 719 786 741 766 25 3.4 -1.1 

Business 255 294 309 293 446 153 52.2 15.0 



All visits 1,436 1,363 1,453 1,428 1,672 244 17.1 3.9 


Holiday 1,441 1,539 1,836 1,856 2,254 398 21.4 11.8 

of which inclusive tour 829 863 1,061 1,034 1,238 204 19.7 10.5 

Business 538 609 749 751 849 98 13.0 12.1 



All visits 2,500 2,736 3,265 3,338 3,926 588 17.6 11.9 

Total World 

Holiday 10,026 10,425 10,610 11,107 12,495 1,388 12.5 5.7 


Business 2,565 2,974 3,359 3,351 4,124 773 23.1 12.6 


Miscellaneous 504 629 721 823 1,001 178 21.6 18.7 

All visits 14,365 15,386 16,223 16,931 19,489 2,558 15.1 7.9 

55


56 

3.05 Number of nights and average length of stay by main area and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

North America 

Holiday 30,410 31,390 37,385 36,313 39,347 17.2 16.0 16.5 16.2 15.2 


Business 5,302 6,352 7,454 6,282 8,077 10.0 11.1 11.2 9.7 10.5 



All visits 50,524 52,446 59,762 57,909 64,878 17.3 16.8 16.7 16.1 15.6 

EU Europe 

Holiday 197,613 195,081 169,555 183,439 200,917 9.6 9.2 8.7 8.5 8.5 


Business 18,374 19,311 20,603 18,270 22,124 4.5 4.3 4.1 3.5 3.8 



All visits 254,537 255,244 233,813 245,455 272,228 8.7 8.2 7.6 7.2 7.3 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 35,748 28,238 32,023 29,713 34,568 12.7 11.7 12.4 11.1 11.3 


Business 3,729 3,355 3,979 4,466 4,303 7.1 6.3 7.0 7.0 5.9 


Miscellaneous 1,850 2,077 965 1,102 1,563 28.5 28.0 10.7 16.0 20.0 

All visits 46,648 38,886 43,324 41,879 47,368 12.6 11.7 12.0 11.0 11.0 


Holiday 44,591 47,067 53,975 52,991 61,775 21.3 21.3 21.8 20.3 19.6 


Business 7,997 9,593 10,028 10,775 10,591 16.1 18.6 16.5 16.4 16.1 



All visits 94,887 104,216 112,878 118,283 124,732 26.3 27.4 26.5 25.6 24.2 

Total World 

Holiday 308,361 301,776 292,938 302,456 336,606 11.3 10.9 10.9 10.4 10.4 


Business 35,402 38,610 42,064 39,793 45,095 6.3 6.3 6.1 5.6 5.6 



All visits 446,596 450,792 449,778 463,526 509,206 11.3 10.9 10.7 10.1 10.0 




3.06 Average spending per visit and spending per day by main area and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 

Average spending per visit (£) 

Average spending per day (£) 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

North America 

Holiday 729 694 756 779 771 42 43 46 48 51 


Business 870 1,005 991 936 1,057 87 91 89 96 101 


Miscellaneous 775 911 1,278 1,045 1,035 26 20 38 31 38 

All visits 695 714 753 755 779 40 42 45 47 50 

EU Europe 

Holiday 302 309 310 300 303 31 34 35 35 36 


Business 323 333 325 326 343 71 77 80 93 91 



All visits 285 291 287 278 286 33 35 38 38 39 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 385 393 396 377 355 30 34 32 34 31 


Business 484 552 543 461 615 68 88 78 66 104 



All visits 386 408 401 377 388 31 35 34 34 35 


Holiday 688 697 741 710 716 32 33 34 35 36 


Business 1,080 1,177 1,233 1,141 1,291 67 63 75 70 80 


Miscellaneous 764 837 834 780 1,032 15 15 16 17 20 

All visits 693 719 768 723 760 26 26 29 28 31 

Total World 

Holiday 368 374 396 381 386 32 34 36 37 37 


Business 457 487 488 468 513 72 77 80 84 91 



All visits 362 372 385 368 383 32 34 36 36 38 

57


58 

3.07 Number of visits by mode of travel and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 

Average 

Annual 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (000s) (%) (%) 

Air 

Holiday 19,262 19,391 18,375 19,937 22,945 3,008 15.1 4.5 


Business 4,486 4,735 5,152 5,575 6,077 502 9.0 7.9 



All visits 27,624 28,097 27,907 30,341 34,283 3,942 13.0 5.5 

Sea 

Holiday 7,926 7,305 6,481 6,984 6,216 -768 -11.0 -5.9 

of which inclusive tour 2,973 2,847 2,200 2,582 2,260 -322 -12.5 -6.6 

Business 1,114 969 1,061 1,018 955 -63 -6.2 -3.8 

Visiting friends or relatives 1,403 1,363 1,459 1,567 1,549 -18 -1.1 2.5 


All visits 11,991 11,311 10,686 11,522 10,498 -1,024 -8.9 -3.3 

Tunnel 

Holiday 0 1,112 1,910 2,217 3,145 928 41.9 

of which inclusive tour 0 231 463 608 1,280 672 110.5 

Business 14 409 666 572 1,000 428 74.8 


Miscellaneous 0 231 583 963 1,492 529 54.9 

All visits 14 1,937 3,457 4,095 6,092 1,997 48.8 

Total 

Holiday 27,188 27,807 26,765 29,138 32,306 3,168 10.9 4.4 


Business 5,613 6,113 6,879 7,166 8,033 867 12.1 9.4 



All visits 39,630 41,345 42,050 45,957 50,872 4,915 10.7 6.4 


3.08 Spending by mode of travel and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 



Average 

Annual 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (£million) (%) (%) 

Air 

Holiday 8,073 8,365 8,587 8,868 10,003 1,135 12.8 5.5 


Business 2,210 2,484 2,772 2,834 3,414 580 20.5 11.5 



All visits 11,595 12,250 12,926 13,402 15,397 1,995 14.9 7.3 

Sea 

Holiday 1,953 1,815 1,559 1,794 1,720 -74 -4.1 -3.1 


Business 353 368 393 381 416 35 9.2 4.2 



All visits 2,768 2,718 2,509 2,791 2,726 -65 -2.3 -0.4 

Tunnel 

Holiday 0 246 465 444 773 329 74.1 


Business 2 122 195 137 293 156 113.9 


Miscellaneous 0 26 78 104 215 111 106.7 

All visits 2 419 788 739 1,367 628 85.0 

Total 

Holiday 10,026 10,425 10,610 11,107 12,495 1,388 12.5 5.7 


Business 2,565 2,974 3,359 3,351 4,124 773 23.1 12.6 


Miscellaneous 504 629 721 823 1,001 178 21.6 18.7 

All visits 14,365 15,386 16,223 16,931 19,489 2,558 15.1 7.9 

59


60 

3.09 Number of visits by country of visit 1994 to 1998 

Average 

Annual 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (000s) (%) (%) 

Canada 455 463 506 566 616 50 8.8 7.9 

USA 2,472 2,657 3,079 3,028 3,542 514 17.0 9.4 

North America 2,927 3,120 3,584 3,594 4,158 564 15.7 9.2 

Austria 587 600 415 425 535 110 25.9 -2.3 

Belgium 959 1,077 1,421 1,419 1,699 280 19.7 15.4 

Denmark 227 221 248 264 231 -33 -12.5 0.4 

Finland 76 81 95 80 108 28 35.0 9.2 

France 8,973 9,645 9,834 11,149 11,518 369 3.3 6.4 

Germany 1,887 1,899 1,898 2,023 2,062 39 1.9 2.2 

Greece 2,164 2,056 1,460 1,512 1,860 348 23.0 -3.7 

Irish Republic 2,491 2,809 3,169 3,613 3,937 324 9.0 12.1 

Italy 1,528 1,600 1,558 1,801 2,012 211 11.7 7.1 

Luxembourg 44 46 33 53 61 8 15.1 8.5 

Netherlands 1,399 1,364 1,532 1,756 1,952 196 11.2 8.7 

Portugal 1,179 1,211 1,102 1,304 1,299 -5 -0.4 2.5 

Spain 7,676 8,239 7,545 8,281 9,650 1,369 16.5 5.9 

Sweden 190 233 280 273 313 40 14.7 13.3 

EU Europe 29,379 31,081 30,591 33,952 37,237 3,285 9.7 6.1 

Cyprus 971 669 709 713 952 239 33.5 -0.5 

Gibraltar 28 26 31 40 39 -1 -2.5 8.6 

Iceland 24 23 21 27 43 16 59.3 15.7 

Malta 464 386 395 374 457 83 22.2 -0.4 

Norway 182 226 208 262 254 -8 -3.1 8.7 

Switzerland 570 516 509 580 652 72 12.4 3.4 

Turkey 716 856 1,032 998 1,037 39 3.9 9.7 


Former USSR 121 121 126 138 144 6 4.3 4.4 

Former Yugoslavia 40 38 71 113 122 9 8.0 32.2 

Non EU Europe 3,717 3,337 3,622 3,793 4,315 522 13.8 3.8 

North Africa 507 484 536 577 651 74 12.8 6.4 

South Africa 127 190 202 230 277 47 20.4 21.5 

Rest of Africa 377 381 349 406 310 -96 -23.6 -4.8 

Israel 139 172 145 149 160 11 7.4 3.6 

Other Middle East 210 217 241 265 281 16 6.0 7.6 

Hong Kong 149 128 153 180 162 -18 -10.0 2.1 

India 304 348 413 402 439 37 9.2 9.6 

Japan 79 74 99 95 129 34 35.8 13.0 

Rest of Asia 678 726 788 787 890 103 13.1 7.0 

Australia 276 291 287 339 407 68 20.1 10.2 

New Zealand 70 71 89 86 97 11 12.8 8.5 

Caribbean* 457 385 534 626 705 79 12.6 11.4 




Total World 39,630 41,345 42,050 45,957 50,872 4,915 10.7 6.4 


3.10 Spending by country of visit 1994 to 1998 



Average 

Annual 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 (£million) (%) (%) 

Canada 274 282 333 374 412 38 10.2 10.7 

USA 1,760 1,947 2,366 2,339 2,827 488 20.9 12.6 

North America 2,033 2,229 2,698 2,713 3,239 526 19.4 12.3 

Austria 258 249 207 180 241 61 33.9 -1.7 

Belgium 161 211 255 284 311 27 9.5 17.9 

Denmark 64 64 84 86 69 -17 -19.8 1.9 

Finland 32 34 39 28 40 12 42.9 5.7 

France 1,956 2,107 2,015 2,256 2,663 407 18.0 8.0 

Germany 516 546 562 597 597 0 0.0 3.7 

Greece 829 783 576 588 651 63 10.7 -5.9 

Irish Republic 545 620 705 764 749 -15 -2.0 8.3 

Italy 659 691 733 828 1,025 197 23.8 11.7 

Luxembourg 12 9 11 13 12 -1 -7.7 0.0 

Netherlands 318 300 352 398 474 76 19.1 10.5 

Portugal 416 483 452 492 468 -24 -4.9 3.0 

Spain 2,555 2,877 2,704 2,825 3,236 411 14.5 6.1 

Sweden 63 69 93 94 96 2 2.1 11.1 

EU Europe 8,397 9,059 8,806 9,451 10,653 1,202 12.7 6.1 

Cyprus 408 284 285 296 391 95 32.1 -1.1 

Gibraltar 14 7 8 10 13 3 30.0 -1.8 

Iceland 11 9 12 11 17 6 54.5 11.5 

Malta 145 118 118 107 114 7 6.5 -5.8 

Norway 55 61 75 89 115 26 29.2 20.2 

Switzerland 236 248 210 218 300 82 37.6 6.2 

Turkey 275 355 406 369 328 -41 -11.1 4.5 


Former USSR 73 95 114 88 119 31 35.2 13.0 

Former Yugoslavia 18 34 50 45 47 2 4.4 27.1 

Non EU Europe 1,436 1,363 1,453 1,428 1,672 244 17.1 3.9 

North Africa 183 191 216 231 234 3 1.3 6.3 

South Africa 73 143 194 188 250 62 33.0 36.0 

Rest of Africa 202 252 236 241 213 -28 -11.6 1.3 

Israel 68 76 75 68 82 14 20.6 4.8 

Other Middle East 119 118 146 147 171 24 16.3 9.5 

Hong Kong 125 106 146 129 91 -38 -29.5 -7.6 

India 156 180 230 228 242 14 6.1 11.6 

Japan 78 80 101 84 120 36 42.9 11.4 

Rest of Asia 572 628 665 636 746 110 17.3 6.9 

Australia 316 329 409 491 542 51 10.4 14.4 

New Zealand 75 94 125 106 123 17 16.0 13.2 

Caribbean* 314 256 336 388 480 92 23.7 11.2 




Total World 14,365 15,386 16,223 16,931 19,489 2,558 15.1 7.9 

61


62 

3.11 Number of nights and average length of stay by country of visit 1994 to 1998 

Nights (thousands) Average length of stay (nights) 

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

Canada 9,614 9,160 10,367 10,613 11,083 21 20 21 19 18 

USA 40,910 43,286 49,395 47,295 53,795 17 16 16 16 15 

North America 50,524 52,446 59,762 57,909 64,878 17 17 17 16 16 

Austria 5,437 5,086 3,302 3,488 4,403 9 8 8 8 8 

Belgium 3,276 3,777 3,832 4,001 4,098 3 4 3 3 2 

Denmark 1,551 1,529 2,051 1,701 1,675 7 7 8 6 7 

Finland 648 616 769 558 986 9 8 8 7 9 

France 56,638 49,153 46,383 48,534 50,860 6 5 5 4 4 

Germany 14,617 14,599 12,714 12,579 12,797 8 8 7 6 6 

Greece 28,606 26,489 19,969 20,286 24,027 13 13 14 13 13 

Irish Republic 16,499 17,709 19,843 21,208 22,409 7 6 6 6 6 

Italy 15,060 15,741 15,232 15,749 18,158 10 10 10 9 9 

Luxembourg 278 137 133 378 408 6 3 4 7 7 

Netherlands 6,609 6,103 7,360 7,144 7,758 5 4 5 4 4 

Portugal 13,590 14,381 12,911 14,948 14,792 12 12 12 11 11 

Spain 90,231 98,315 87,310 92,944 107,620 12 12 12 11 11 

Sweden 1,496 1,609 2,003 1,938 2,238 8 7 7 7 7 

EU Europe 254,537 255,244 233,813 245,455 272,228 9 8 8 7 7 

Cyprus 13,870 8,767 9,614 9,382 12,009 14 13 14 13 13 

Gibraltar 310 341 254 430 573 11 13 8 11 15 

Iceland 181 185 172 279 442 7 8 8 11 10 

Malta 5,664 4,566 4,766 4,262 5,148 12 12 12 11 11 

Norway 1,912 2,036 2,652 2,089 2,384 10 9 13 8 9 

Switzerland 4,774 3,662 3,678 4,399 4,242 8 7 7 8 7 

Turkey 10,216 11,740 13,808 12,400 13,068 14 14 13 12 13 

Central & Eastern Europe* 7,280 5,029 5,323 5,264 5,856 12 11 10 10 10 

Former USSR 1,532 1,588 1,494 2,110 2,195 13 13 12 15 15 

Former Yugoslavia 909 972 1,562 1,263 1,451 23 26 22 11 12 

Non EU Europe 46,648 38,886 43,324 41,879 47,368 13 12 12 11 11 

North Africa 6,575 6,584 6,658 7,608 7,911 13 14 12 13 12 

South Africa 3,348 4,480 5,854 5,395 6,429 26 24 29 23 23 

Rest of Africa 8,761 9,536 8,819 11,019 7,869 23 25 25 27 25 

Israel 2,710 3,139 2,567 2,133 2,137 20 18 18 14 13 


Hong Kong 4,043 2,972 3,561 4,630 2,936 27 23 23 26 18 

India 11,391 13,225 14,116 13,286 12,678 37 38 34 33 29 

Japan 1,825 1,311 1,926 2,082 2,607 23 18 19 22 20 

Rest of Asia 24,286 27,545 28,332 26,582 28,623 36 38 36 34 32 

Australia 11,448 13,498 14,569 15,395 18,707 41 46 51 45 46 

New Zealand 2,829 3,285 3,708 4,255 4,687 40 46 42 49 48 

Caribbean* 8,421 7,756 9,936 11,556 12,894 18 20 19 18 18 

Central & South America* 2,535 3,313 5,088 5,484 7,238 23 24 25 21 20 

Rest of the World* 2,059 2,556 3,267 2,870 3,603 16 13 16 13 12 


Total World 446,596 450,792 449,778 463,526 509,206 11 11 11 10 10 




3.12 Average spending per visit and spending per day by country of visit 1994 to 1998 


1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

Canada 602 608 658 661 669 28 31 32 35 37 

USA 712 733 768 772 798 43 45 48 49 53 

North America 695 714 753 755 779 40 42 45 47 50 

Austria 439 415 498 422 450 47 49 63 52 55 

Belgium 168 195 179 200 183 49 56 67 71 76 

Denmark 280 287 340 327 300 41 42 41 51 41 

Finland 419 425 412 349 375 49 56 51 50 41 

France 218 218 205 202 231 35 43 43 46 52 

Germany 273 288 296 295 289 35 37 44 47 47 

Greece 383 381 394 389 350 29 30 29 29 27 

Irish Republic 219 221 223 211 190 33 35 36 36 33 

Italy 431 432 471 460 510 44 44 48 53 56 

Luxembourg 264 193 328 239 194 42 65 81 33 29 

Netherlands 227 220 229 227 243 48 49 48 56 61 

Portugal 353 399 410 377 360 31 34 35 33 32 

Spain 333 349 358 341 335 28 29 31 30 30 

Sweden 331 296 334 345 307 42 43 47 48 43 

EU Europe 285 291 287 278 286 33 35 38 38 39 

Cyprus 420 425 402 415 411 29 32 30 32 33 

Gibraltar 512 255 263 257 325 47 20 32 24 22 

Iceland 463 417 584 406 389 63 51 70 39 38 

Malta 313 305 300 286 249 26 26 25 25 22 

Norway 303 269 358 338 451 29 30 28 42 48 

Switzerland 415 481 412 376 460 50 68 57 50 71 

Turkey 384 415 394 370 317 27 30 29 30 25 

Central & Eastern Europe* 332 319 337 359 372 27 30 33 37 39 

Former USSR 604 782 907 637 827 48 60 76 42 54 

Former Yugoslavia 446 891 697 395 384 20 35 32 35 32 

Non EU Europe 386 408 401 377 388 31 35 34 34 35 

North Africa 361 395 402 401 360 28 29 32 30 30 

South Africa 578 752 960 815 904 22 32 33 35 39 

Rest of Africa 535 660 678 593 688 23 26 27 22 27 

Israel 489 445 521 456 511 25 24 29 32 38 

Other Middle East 566 546 606 555 610 26 24 33 25 27 

Hong Kong 843 830 955 715 560 31 36 41 28 31 

India 513 519 557 568 551 14 14 16 17 19 

Japan 986 1,079 1,012 882 931 43 61 52 40 46 

Rest of Asia 843 865 843 808 838 24 23 23 24 26 

Australia 1,144 1,130 1,423 1,450 1,332 28 24 28 32 29 

New Zealand 1,074 1,328 1,399 1,226 1,260 27 29 34 25 26 

Caribbean* 686 664 628 620 680 37 33 34 34 37 

Central & South America* 843 777 853 717 924 36 33 34 34 46 

Rest of the World* 1,014 858 1,006 991 1,010 62 68 65 76 82 


Total World 362 372 385 368 383 32 34 36 36 38 

63


64 

3.13 Number of visits and spending by length of stay and main area of visit 1994 to 1998 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

Nil nights 

North America 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 

EU Europe 3,044 3,849 4,316 4,948 4,778 174 238 282 335 418 

Non EU Europe 38 41 33 45 49 2 4 1 2 2 


Total World 3,087 3,892 4,351 4,999 4,830 177 242 283 337 421 

1-3 nights 

North America 91 111 131 130 155 31 36 43 45 66 

EU Europe 4,916 5,382 6,018 6,822 7,683 933 1,068 1,198 1,371 1,592 

Non EU Europe 346 388 440 510 544 90 98 125 122 156 


Total World 5,405 5,930 6,657 7,545 8,463 1,076 1,221 1,388 1,563 1,839 

4-13 nights 

North America 959 1,144 1,252 1,375 1,706 572 675 858 895 1,147 

EU Europe 10,805 11,096 10,558 11,729 13,466 3,192 3,454 3,413 3,756 4,288 

Non EU Europe 1,518 1,420 1,534 1,695 2,000 541 526 546 577 707 

Other Countries 973 1,134 1,323 1,394 1,642 566 655 838 825 906 

Total World 14,254 14,794 14,667 16,193 18,814 4,870 5,311 5,655 6,053 7,049 

14-27 nights 

North America 1,580 1,586 1,914 1,792 1,974 1,127 1,133 1,430 1,403 1,603 

EU Europe 7,484 7,299 5,857 6,257 6,689 3,013 3,089 2,620 2,697 2,912 

Non EU Europe 1,634 1,354 1,452 1,406 1,566 679 607 647 628 675 


Total World 12,357 11,853 11,046 11,496 12,552 5,972 5,987 5,995 6,160 6,885 


North America 295 278 287 297 322 303 385 366 369 423 

EU Europe 640 647 673 584 684 526 572 571 509 672 

Non EU Europe 181 133 163 136 157 124 129 134 99 131 

Other Countries 919 1,009 1,038 1,095 1,114 758 903 1,105 1,059 1,298 

Total World 2,035 2,067 2,161 2,112 2,278 1,711 1,989 2,178 2,035 2,524 

All visits 

North America 2,927 3,120 3,584 3,594 4,158 2,033 2,229 2,698 2,713 3,239 

EU Europe 29,379 31,081 30,591 33,952 37,237 8,397 9,059 8,806 9,451 10,653 

Non EU Europe 3,717 3,337 3,622 3,793 4,315 1,436 1,363 1,453 1,428 1,672 


Total World 39,630 41,345 42,050 45,957 50,872 14,365 15,386 16,223 16,931 19,489 




3.14 Number of visits and spending by length of stay and purpose of visit 1994 to 1998 



1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 

Nil nights 

Holiday 1,511 2,035 2,037 2,050 1,683 62 92 94 100 97 


Business 439 571 699 721 784 21 29 28 32 39 


Miscellaneous 1,101 1,251 1,582 2,185 2,329 91 119 157 204 282 

All visits 3,087 3,892 4,351 4,999 4,830 177 242 283 337 421 

1-3 nights 

Holiday 2,376 2,517 2,812 3,407 3,723 381 436 485 597 695 

of which inclusive tour 982 1,037 1,033 1,382 1,619 178 211 214 285 335 

Business 2,378 2,549 2,807 2,937 3,322 603 664 740 758 926 



All visits 5,405 5,930 6,657 7,545 8,463 1,076 1,221 1,388 1,563 1,839 

4-13 nights 

Holiday 10,761 11,158 10,602 11,936 14,032 3,396 3,672 3,647 4,014 4,636 

of which inclusive tour 6,734 7,199 6,657 7,636 8,776 2,193 2,423 2,333 2,555 2,844 

Business 1,796 1,869 2,105 2,131 2,401 1,117 1,246 1,550 1,555 1,810 



All visits 14,254 14,794 14,667 16,193 18,814 4,870 5,311 5,655 6,053 7,049 

14-27 nights 

Holiday 10,879 10,355 9,388 9,792 10,758 5,208 5,152 5,053 5,167 5,744 


Business 274 288 342 350 359 318 375 429 458 566 



All visits 12,357 11,853 11,046 11,496 12,552 5,972 5,987 5,995 6,160 6,885 


Holiday 918 909 998 904 973 768 834 1,063 941 1,036 


Business 202 234 223 202 252 408 545 473 394 635 



All visits 2,035 2,067 2,161 2,112 2,278 1,711 1,989 2,178 2,035 2,524 

All Visits 

Holiday 27,187 27,807 26,765 29,138 32,306 10,026 10,425 10,610 11,107 12,495 


Business 5,614 6,113 6,879 7,166 8,033 2,565 2,974 3,359 3,351 4,124 


Miscellaneous 2,155 2,486 2,904 3,649 4,082 504 629 721 823 1,001 

All visits 39,630 41,345 42,050 45,957 50,872 14,365 15,386 16,223 16,931 19,489 

65


66 


Overseas residents’ 

visits to the UK 1998 

Visits to the UK 

(thousands) 

2,000 + 

1,000 - 1,999 

500 - 999 

100 - 499 

50 - 99 

0 - 49 


Overseas residents’ visits 1998 

Chapter 4 

Nights spent in the UK 

(thousands) 

5,000 + 

2,500 - 4,999 

1,000 - 2,499 

0 - 999 

67 

: 4

4 : Overseas residents’ visits 1998 

4.01 Number of visits 


4.02 Visits and spending 

by area of residence 



68 

Sea 

20% 

per cent 

100 

£ 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

1000 

800 

600 

400 

200 

0 

Tunnel 

12% 

North 

America 

Air 

68% 

Visits Spending 


Non EU Europe 

EU Europe 

North America 

EU 

Europe 

Non EU 

Europe 

Other 

Countries 

Total 

World 

Chapter 4 

Overseas residents’ visits to the UK 1998 

During 1998, overseas residents made 25.7 million visits to the UK 

spending £12.7 billion. This chapter examines the characteristics 

exhibited by these passengers. 


Table 4.01 details the breakdown of visits and spending in the UK, by 

overseas residents of each of the four main regions of the world, by 

their mode of travel. Figure 4.01 demonstrates that the majority of 

visitors to the UK arrive by air. However whilst the growth rate from 

1997 to 1998 for air was 3.7 per cent, a far higher growth rate was 

observed on Channel Tunnel routes of 9.0 per cent whilst visits by 

sea fell by 11.4 per cent. In terms of the spending associated with 

each overseas residents’ visit, those travelling by air recorded the 

highest average amount of £593 per visit, while those residents 

travelling by sea and tunnel on average spent similar amounts of £275 

and £285 respectively. 

Visits and spending by area of residence 

Figure 4.02 illustrates that the greatest proportion of visitors to the 

UK, travel from within EU-Europe - accounting for 59 per cent of all 

visits to the UK during 1998. Residents from North America accounted 

for 18 per cent, residents of ‘Other Countries’ accounted for 15 per 

cent and residents from non-EU Europe accounted for eight per cent. 

Despite the large numbers of visitors from within EU European 

countries their relatively low expenditure per visit, shown in figure 

4.03, results in residents of the EU generating just 40 per cent of the 

total expenditure. Conversely, the comparatively smaller numbers of 

‘big spenders’ from ‘Other Countries’ represented 28 per cent of the 

total expenditure made by overseas residents in the UK during 1998. 


Figure 4.04 shows that holidays accounted for more visits to, and 

spending in, the UK during 1998 than any other purpose of visit, 

representing 41 per cent of all visits to the UK. Business trips were 

the second most frequent purpose for visiting the UK with 27 per cent 

of all visits, followed by visits to friends or relatives with 21 per cent 

and visits for miscellaneous purposes with 12 per cent. Figure 4.04 

also shows that 57 per cent of holiday visits to the UK were made by 

air, a relatively low proportion when compared to the 75 per cent of 

visits being made by air for all the other purposes. 


Three new categories of purpose of visit were recorded for the first 

time during 1998; shopping can now be separated from miscellaneous 

purposes, and visiting friends and visiting family are recorded with 

unique codes. Shoppers tend to travel from the closer countries, and 

spend most where the cost of living is relatively high compared to the 

UK. Figure 4.05 shows the highest average spending per visit by 

country for shoppers visiting the UK, with visitors from Iceland 

spending, on average, over £600 per visit. 

Figure 4.06 identifies the countries with the highest number of visits 

to friends or relatives. Visits to the Irish Republic are not shown, 

since no breakdown into friends and family is available from the IPS. 

It is clear that the larger of the two purposes is visits to family, with 

more visitors coming from residents of English speaking countries 

such as USA, Canada, Australia and from close by EU-European 

countries such as France, Germany and the Netherlands. Visits to 

friends in the UK came from similar countries, though a noticeable 

characteristic of them, not shown in the graph, was their shorter 

average length of stay. However, the greater expenditure per day on 

visits spent with friends compared with that on visits to family, resulted 

in a similar pattern of spending per visit between the two purposes. 

Visits and spending by quarter 

Table 4.02 details the breakdown of visits and spending by overseas 

residents in the UK by quarter of 1998, area of residence and purpose 

of visit. From the table it can be seen that holiday visits are the most 

seasonal, with 35 per cent of all holiday visits taking place in quarter 

three. Conversely, business visits show little seasonality, with similar 

numbers of visits made during each quarter of the year. 

Visits and spending by region of stay in the UK 

Table 4.03 provides a detailed breakdown of overseas residents’ visits 

and spending by their region of stay in the UK during 1998. As a 

single visit to the UK may involve an overnight stay in more than one 

region, the sub totals for London and Other England will not sum to 

the number of visits shown for Total England. London is the most 

popular region of the UK for overseas residents with 12.3 million 

overnight visits made, a similar number to that recorded in 1997. 

However, whilst London dominates the holiday sector and to a lesser 

extent the business and miscellaneous categories, more visits were 

made to Other England destinations by overseas residents visiting 

friends and family. 




by purpose and mode of transport 

millions 

12 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 


4.05 Average spending per visit for 

shopping by country of residence 

Iceland 

Switzerland 

Sweden 

Norway 

Netherlands 

Germany 

Belgium 

France 

Air Sea Tunnel 

4.06 Visits to family and friends 

by country of residence 

USA 

France 

Germany 

Netherlands 

Canada 

Australia 

Spain 

Belgium 

Italy 

Switzerland 

0 200 400 600 800 

£ 

thousands 

0 200 400 600 800 

Visiting family Visiting friends 

69 

: 4


4.07 Top five countries of residence 

by number of visit to the UK 

70 

USA 

France 

Germany 


Netherlands 

millions 

0 1 2 3 4 5 

4.08 Visits and spending by country of residence and main reason for visit 

visits (thousands) 

4000 3000 2000 1000 0 

Visits, nights and spending by country of residence 

Table 4.04 provides a detailed breakdown of overseas residents’ visits, 

nights and spending by their country of residence and their purpose 

of visit to the UK. More residents of the USA visited the UK during 

1998 than residents of France, for the first time since 1994. Figure 

4.07 illustrates the top five countries of residence with the greatest 

number of visits to the UK during 1998. 

Figure 4.08 shows the number of visits and spending by country of 

residence. The split between business and leisure visits (which include 

visits for holiday, visiting friends or relatives and for miscellaneous 

Canada 

USA 

Austria 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Finland 

France 

Germany 

Greece 


Italy 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Portugal 

Spain 

Sweden 

Cyprus 

Gibraltar 

Iceland 

Malta 

Norway 

Switzerland 

Turkey 

Central & Eastern Europe* 

Former USSR 

Former Yugoslavia 

North Africa 

South Africa 

Rest of Africa 

Israel 

Other Middle East 

Hong Kong 

India 

Japan 

Rest of Asia 

Australia 

New Zealand 

Caribbean* 

Central & South America* 

Rest of the World* 

Spending (£ million) 

0 1000 2000 3000 

Business 

Leisure 


purposes) can be identified, with proportionately more business visits 

being made from the EU countries. Residents of the USA spent nearly 

three times as much on their visits to the UK as the second highest 

spending German resident visitors. 

Average length of stay and spending 

Table 4.05 gives a detailed breakdown of the average length of stay, 

the average spend per day and the average spend per visit of overseas 

residents visiting the UK by both country of residence and purpose of 

visit during 1998. Figures 4.09 to 4.11 show the relationship between 

average length of stay, average spending per visit and average 

spending per day by purpose of visit. The dotted line on each figure 

represents the overall average for all overseas residents travelling to 

the UK. 

Visits by overseas residents for miscellaneous purposes produced 

the highest average spending per visit of £792, as a result of them 

staying on average for 19 nights, the longest for any purpose. This 

high average stay was mainly due to students or those on other study 

visits, who stayed an average of 47 nights. Visits to friends and 

relatives despite having a longer than average stay in the UK of 12 

nights, recorded the lowest average spending per day of £31, resulting 

in the lowest average spending per visit of £365. The low average 

spending per day was likely to be due to low average accommodation 

costs from staying with friends or family, as shown from the 1997 

expenditure trailer (chapter 6). 


Table 4.06 shows the breakdown of overseas residents’ visits and 

spending by their length of stay and country of residence. The 

distribution of visits by length of stay is illustrated in figure 4.12, with 

overseas residents making two million day trips to the UK. Residents 

of France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands made 80 per cent 

of these day trips. 

Visits by port 

Table 4.07 shows the number of overseas residents’ visits by each of 

the main ports of entry to the UK during 1998 by their country of 

residence. Figure 4.13 shows the number of visits via the top six 

most frequently used ports for overseas residents travelling to the UK 


£ 

£ 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 

1000 

800 

600 

400 

200 

0 

125 

100 

75 

50 

25 

0 




nights 








71 

: 4



by duration of stay 

6 months to 1 year 


by UK port 

Dover / Folkestone 


by purpose and gender 

£ 

72 

4 to 13 nights 



3 to 6 months 

Channel Tunnel 

800 

600 

400 

200 

1 to 3 nights 

0 

Nil nights 

Heathrow 

Gatwick 

Stansted 

Manchester 

millions 

0 2 4 6 8 10 

0 2 4 6 8 

millions 

10 

Business Leisure 

Male Female 

during 1998. Visits by overseas residents to the UK via the Channel 

Tunnel exceeded those made via both Dover and Folkestone for the 

first time during 1998 to rank second behind Heathrow as the most 

popular gateway to the UK. Stansted has overtaken Manchester for 

the first time to become the fifth most popular port, but with a third of 

the level of traffic from overseas residents’ as the fourth most frequently 

used port, Gatwick. 

Visits by vehicle type 

Table 4.08 shows the breakdown of overseas residents’ visits to the 

UK by vehicle type with 32 per cent of passengers travelling either by 

sea or via the Channel Tunnel. People travelling on Eurostar 

passenger trains are included within the ‘foot’ category. Travelling by 

foot was the most popular method of travelling by sea or via the 

Channel Tunnel with around 35 per cent of visits by overseas residents. 

The most popular mode of transport used by overseas residents’ was 

private vehicles with 30 per cent of visits, followed by coaches with 

27 per cent and goods vehicles accounting for seven per cent of 

overseas residents visiting the UK. 

Visits and spending by gender 

Table 4.09 gives a detailed breakdown of overseas residents’ visits 

and spending by gender and country of residence for both business 

and leisure visits to the UK. 

Figure 4.14 compares the average spending per visit of overseas 

residents for both business and leisure visits by gender. Females 

spent an average £112 more than males on business trips, whilst 

males spent on average £22 more on leisure trips than females 

during 1998. 

Visits and spending by age group 

Table 4.10 gives a full breakdown of visits and spending by age group 

and country of residence for 1998. Figure 4.15 illustrates the age 

profile of overseas residents’ visits to the UK for 1998. Overall, both 

visits and spending by overseas residents’ in the UK are highest from 

the 25 to 34 age group. However, it is noticeable that those residents 

of the closer EU European countries, or those where English is the 

main language, tended to make more visits in the younger age groups 

than those from more distant countries. 


Visits, nights and spending by county of visit 

Table 4.11 provides a detailed breakdown of visits, nights and spending 

by purpose of visits and county of stay in the UK. Once again, it 

should be noted that each visit may span several counties and 

consequently the number of visits shown in the table will not sum to 

the country or UK totals. 

Figure 4.16 shows that the highest levels of spending were recorded 

in the urban areas around London, the West Midlands, Manchester 

and Edinburgh, as well as the areas near the main south coast sea 

and tunnel ports. 

Figure 4.17 compares the numbers of visitors recorded to the 20 

most popular towns of visit, after London, for overseas residents during 

1998. Nearly twelve times as many staying visits were made to London 

than to Edinburgh, but the Scottish capital attracted twice as many 

visitors as its closest rival Birmingham. Visits by region are shown in 

figure 4.18 overleaf. 

4.16 

Overseas residents’ spending in the UK 

by county/region of visit 

£200m+ 

£100m - £199m 

£50m - £99m 

£0 - £49m 



by age group 

0-15 

16-24 

25-34 

35-44 

45-54 

55-64 

65+ 


millions 

0 2 4 6 

4.17 Top 20 UK towns (excluding London) 

by number of visits 

thousands 

Edinburgh 

Birmingham 

Glasgow 

Manchester 

Oxford 

Cambridge 

York 

Bath 

Brighton / Hove 

Inverness 

Bristol 

Bournemouth 

Newcastle-upon-Tyne 

Nottingham 

Cardiff 

Leeds 

Liverpool 

Stratford-upon-Avon 

Canterbury 

Chester 

0 400 800 1,200 

73 

: 4


4.18 Visits to the regions of the UK 

74 

thousands 

750 +, 

250 - 749, 

100 - 249, 

0 - 99 


4.01 Number of visits and spending by mode of travel and purpose of visit 1998 



Air Sea Channel Tunnel Total 


(thousands) (£ million) (thousands) (£ million) (thousands) (£ million) (thousands) (£ million) 

North America 

Holiday 1,736 1,097 147 49 286 113 2,169 1,260 

of which inclusive tour 371 221 44 4 57 14 472 239 

Business 867 771 5 3 33 32 905 806 

Visiting friends or relatives 924 387 17 6 59 20 1,000 413 

Miscellaneous 432 251 25 16 21 47 479 314 

All visits 3,959 2,515 195 74 399 212 4,553 2,801 

EU Europe 

Holiday 2,298 957 2,399 521 1,117 201 5,814 1,678 

of which inclusive tour 596 215 734 164 321 68 1,652 447 

Business 3,465 1,416 661 94 514 102 4,639 1,612 

Visiting friends or relatives 1,841 483 753 143 500 79 3,093 706 

Miscellaneous 901 668 445 269 320 104 1,665 1,042 

All visits 8,505 3,531 4,257 1,027 2,451 486 15,212 5,044 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 552 263 171 37 16 6 739 305 


Business 565 472 89 9 7 4 661 484 

Visiting friends or relatives 326 121 75 84 7 1 408 206 


All visits 1,732 1,103 399 142 40 14 2,171 1,259 


Holiday 1,370 1,087 173 71 210 88 1,753 1,245 


Business 658 885 2 8 18 24 677 918 



All visits 3,283 3,218 231 155 295 194 3,809 3,566 

Total World 

Holiday 5,956 3,404 2,891 677 1,628 407 10,475 4,488 

of which inclusive tour 1,466 645 918 201 440 94 2,824 940 

Business 5,555 3,544 756 114 571 162 6,882 3,820 

Visiting friends or relatives 3,920 1,577 876 270 604 124 5,400 1,970 

Miscellaneous 2,048 1,818 559 336 380 213 2,988 2,367 

All visits 17,479 10,366 5,083 1,399 3,184 906 25,745 12,671 

75 

: 4


76 

4.02 Number of visits and spending by quarter of the year and purpose of visit 1998 

January - March April - June July - September October - December 



North America 

Holiday 324 168 631 374 781 467 432 251 


Business 226 204 219 182 245 235 215 186 



All visits 841 509 1,234 735 1,515 947 963 610 

EU Europe 

Holiday 952 237 1,703 444 1,908 658 1,251 340 


Business 998 315 1,263 450 1,134 393 1,244 454 



All visits 2,835 854 4,143 1,287 4,472 1,692 3,762 1,210 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 126 52 169 71 257 100 188 82 


Business 148 92 186 177 165 78 162 137 



All visits 419 213 541 348 633 294 577 405 


Holiday 320 184 424 297 695 539 314 225 


Business 145 237 175 236 179 237 177 207 



All visits 710 674 916 830 1,407 1,278 777 784 

Total World 

Holiday 1,722 641 2,927 1,186 3,642 1,764 2,185 897 


Business 1,518 848 1,844 1,045 1,723 944 1,797 984 

Visiting friends or relatives 1,064 384 1,414 463 1,615 592 1,306 531 

Miscellaneous 500 372 649 501 1,047 903 791 591 

All visits 4,804 2,250 6,834 3,200 8,027 4,212 6,080 3,009 




4.03 Number of visits and spending by region of the UK and purpose of visit 1998 

London Other England Total England Scotland 

Wales 


(1000s) (£ million) (1000s) (£ million) (1000s) (£ million) (1000s) (£ million) (1000s) (£ million) 

North America 

Holiday 1,652 763 787 268 2,010 1,031 387 197 129 20 


Business 555 510 416 249 843 759 65 38 19 5 



All visits 2,976 1,602 1,993 828 4,211 2,430 606 299 203 37 

EU Europe 

Holiday 2,647 710 1,741 385 4,111 1,095 467 176 138 20 

of which inclusive tour 1,134 284 493 111 1,573 396 112 45 13 2 

Business 1,350 667 1,677 530 2,859 1,197 160 69 57 14 

Visiting friends or relatives 960 215 1,352 268 2,158 483 124 33 98 14 

Miscellaneous 501 348 631 482 1,074 830 48 40 20 4 

All visits 5,458 1,941 5,401 1,665 10,203 3,606 799 318 312 53 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 473 190 238 75 648 265 92 33 18 3 


Business 352 327 260 125 558 452 35 20 9 4 



All visits 1,167 678 898 482 1,903 1,160 174 71 43 11 


Holiday 1,422 809 566 322 1,685 1,131 203 83 81 20 


Business 468 576 270 279 633 855 40 44 14 14 



All visits 2,668 2,072 1,582 1,201 3,627 3,272 368 195 159 64 

Total World 

Holiday 6,194 2,472 3,332 1,051 8,454 3,522 1,149 489 366 63 

of which inclusive tour 2,155 625 738 175 2,678 801 318 119 97 14 

Business 2,725 2,080 2,622 1,184 4,894 3,264 299 171 99 37 

Visiting friends or relatives 2,061 735 2,737 864 4,278 1,599 381 138 210 41 

Miscellaneous 1,289 1,007 1,182 1,076 2,317 2,083 118 84 44 23 

All visits 12,269 6,293 9,873 4,175 19,944 10,468 1,947 882 718 164 

77 

: 4


78 

4.04 Number of visits, nights and spending by purpose of visit 1998 

Holiday visits Business visits 

total of which inclusive tour 

visits nights spending visits nights spending visits nights spending 

(thousands) (thousands) (£ million) (thousands) (thousands) (£ million) (thousands) (thousands) (£ million) 

Canada 251 3,280 118 42 425 19 77 540 66 

USA 1,918 15,506 1,142 430 2,899 220 828 4,892 740 

North America 2,169 18,786 1,260 472 3,324 239 905 5,432 806 

Austria 106 783 42 47 270 17 67 339 30 

Belgium 485 1,210 76 109 368 23 353 548 75 

Denmark 192 1,358 63 74 366 25 134 420 64 

Finland 46 369 21 22 122 9 65 272 29 

France 1,320 5,896 216 351 1,620 73 1,015 2,596 234 

Germany 1,253 8,273 341 473 2,457 134 771 2,418 275 

Greece 51 450 30 13 63 7 48 228 60 

Irish Republic 602 4,822 244 . . . 731 4,075 276 

Italy 393 2,998 162 102 557 34 334 1,594 158 

Luxembourg 20 121 6 5 16 2 15 27 5 

Netherlands 736 3,762 174 275 1,136 67 559 1,064 141 

Portugal 57 605 26 23 126 8 59 229 29 

Spain 308 2,081 89 64 301 17 243 1,163 98 

Sweden 247 1,569 87 94 475 32 246 928 138 

EU Europe 5,814 34,298 1,678 1,652 7,877 447 4,639 15,901 1,612 

Cyprus 19 216 11 1 5 0 15 87 13 

Gibraltar 3 32 2 0 1 0 2 4 1 

Iceland 46 222 22 37 142 18 9 64 6 

Malta 16 146 9 3 18 2 9 82 8 

Norway 205 990 86 69 300 26 141 497 73 

Switzerland 222 1,324 88 77 327 29 185 703 113 

Turkey 19 164 16 3 17 2 28 185 31 

Central & Eastern Europe* 136 1,024 40 55 361 15 177 1,036 79 

Former USSR 60 641 27 7 58 4 81 1,125 153 

Former Yugoslavia 13 236 6 3 12 1 14 45 6 

Non EU Europe 739 4,996 305 257 1,240 97 661 3,827 484 

North Africa 22 395 35 1 7 0 29 492 52 

South Africa 124 2,239 81 21 125 6 55 337 59 

Rest of Africa 78 1,649 91 1 5 1 63 883 166 

Israel 106 676 55 35 181 16 43 173 29 

Other Middle East 152 2,467 205 3 14 1 71 773 126 

Hong Kong 70 582 47 15 52 4 33 236 33 

India 59 794 27 5 23 1 52 1,043 76 

Japan 335 2,063 150 183 800 67 104 909 105 

Rest of Asia 156 1,866 136 32 126 12 104 1,012 112 

Australia 278 4,571 190 46 454 20 58 577 66 

New Zealand 63 1,667 51 6 50 2 15 193 12 

Caribbean* 44 779 44 6 20 2 10 110 15 

Central & South America* 257 1,636 131 83 309 24 40 333 59 

Rest of the World* 8 51 1 7 22 1 1 32 6 

Other Countries 1,753 21,437 1,245 444 2,188 156 677 7,105 918 

Total World 10,475 79,517 4,488 2,824 14,629 940 6,882 32,265 3,820 




Visiting friends or relatives Miscellaneous 


Total visits 



Canada 265 3,862 102 80 901 32 673 8,584 319 

USA 735 8,775 311 399 4,615 283 3,880 33,788 2,482 

North America 1,000 12,637 413 479 5,516 314 4,553 42,371 2,801 

Austria 43 301 13 26 492 16 242 1,916 101 

Belgium 172 1,129 40 174 586 34 1,183 3,474 225 

Denmark 71 500 17 36 396 18 433 2,674 163 

Finland 19 184 5 14 479 10 145 1,303 66 

France 627 4,299 91 312 5,219 209 3,274 18,010 750 

Germany 538 3,971 113 269 4,240 150 2,830 18,901 882 

Greece 61 710 28 35 697 38 195 2,085 157 

Irish Republic 736 5,940 170 241 2,406 134 2,310 17,243 824 

Italy 154 1,732 44 209 6,117 190 1,090 12,442 555 

Luxembourg 17 75 11 8 80 4 60 303 27 

Netherlands 301 1,699 57 122 810 35 1,718 7,335 407 

Portugal 35 489 13 25 290 26 177 1,613 94 

Spain 209 2,749 75 119 4,208 121 879 10,201 384 

Sweden 109 951 29 73 1,696 56 676 5,145 310 

EU Europe 3,093 24,729 706 1,665 27,718 1,042 15,212 102,645 5,044 

Cyprus 25 367 15 14 257 17 74 927 56 

Gibraltar 9 60 5 6 26 4 20 122 12 

Iceland 7 124 2 13 38 7 75 449 38 

Malta 8 101 4 9 129 3 42 458 24 

Norway 80 579 26 83 409 32 509 2,474 218 

Switzerland 129 882 33 47 1,054 53 583 3,963 287 

Turkey 11 196 8 17 506 16 75 1,051 71 

Central & Eastern Europe* 93 2,980 93 87 3,122 40 493 8,162 251 

Former USSR 37 631 13 71 1,402 81 249 3,798 276 


Non EU Europe 408 6,113 206 363 7,121 262 2,171 22,057 1,259 

North Africa 18 808 35 18 410 26 86 2,104 149 

South Africa 80 1,339 49 26 671 25 284 4,587 216 

Rest of Africa 69 1,915 57 36 944 57 246 5,392 373 

Israel 35 441 15 14 81 14 198 1,371 113 

Other Middle East 89 1,581 94 61 963 89 374 5,784 515 

Hong Kong 46 606 39 16 204 16 165 1,629 135 

India 41 1,266 24 22 460 11 175 3,563 140 

Japan 40 650 22 67 3,370 151 545 6,992 429 

Rest of Asia 124 2,720 88 72 3,489 175 456 9,088 512 

Australia 213 4,847 129 53 1,296 38 603 11,292 424 

New Zealand 74 1,900 45 13 637 11 166 4,397 120 

Caribbean* 28 1,078 19 13 90 10 95 2,057 89 

Central & South America* 39 1,017 28 68 2,335 125 404 5,320 344 


Other Countries 898 20,211 646 480 14,950 749 3,809 63,703 3,566 

Total World 5,400 63,691 1,970 2,988 55,305 2,367 25,745 230,777 12,671 

79 

: 4


80 

4.05 Average length of stay, spending per visit and spending per day by purpose of visit 1998 



average average average 

stay spend per spend per stay spend per spend per stay spend per spend per 

(nights) visit (£s) day (£s) (nights) visit (£s) day (£s) (nights) visit (£s) day (£s) 

Canada 13 470 36 10 450 45 7 864 123 

USA 8 595 74 7 512 76 6 894 151 

North America 9 581 67 7 506 72 6 891 148 

Austria 7 401 54 6 355 62 5 441 88 

Belgium 2 158 63 3 214 63 2 212 136 

Denmark 7 331 47 5 334 68 3 474 151 

Finland 8 457 57 6 408 72 4 451 108 

France 4 163 37 5 208 45 3 230 90 

Germany 7 272 41 5 284 55 3 357 114 

Greece 9 599 68 5 504 104 5 1,261 263 

Irish Republic 8 405 51 . . . 6 378 68 

Italy 8 413 54 5 336 62 5 474 99 

Luxembourg 6 315 51 3 313 106 2 357 196 

Netherlands 5 237 46 4 245 59 2 253 133 

Portugal 11 460 43 5 352 64 4 485 125 

Spain 7 290 43 5 264 56 5 404 85 

Sweden 6 353 56 5 337 67 4 560 148 

EU Europe 6 272 46 5 271 57 3 347 101 

Cyprus 11 556 50 4 360 101 6 903 155 

Gibraltar 10 531 52 2 210 105 2 323 191 

Iceland 5 479 98 4 492 128 7 726 100 

Malta 9 539 60 7 678 98 9 892 103 

Norway 5 419 87 4 381 88 4 517 147 

Switzerland 6 395 66 4 373 88 4 610 160 

Turkey 8 808 95 6 599 99 7 1,110 170 

Central & Eastern Europe* 8 294 39 7 273 42 6 444 76 

Former USSR 11 458 43 8 481 62 14 1,899 136 


Non EU Europe 7 413 61 5 379 78 6 732 126 

North Africa 18 1,588 89 11 611 56 17 1,786 105 

South Africa 18 656 36 6 295 49 6 1,078 175 

Rest of Africa 21 1,166 55 10 1,260 126 14 2,624 188 

Israel 6 520 82 5 472 91 4 670 165 


Hong Kong 8 670 80 3 268 80 7 995 138 

India 13 461 35 5 110 24 20 1,456 73 

Japan 6 449 73 4 364 83 9 1,017 116 

Rest of Asia 12 871 73 4 365 93 10 1,083 111 

Australia 16 684 42 10 433 44 10 1,146 115 

New Zealand 26 802 30 9 401 45 13 830 64 

Caribbean* 18 1,002 57 3 307 95 11 1,559 139 

Central & South America* 6 509 80 4 285 76 8 1,483 176 

Rest of the World* 6 101 16 3 91 30 25 4,825 194 

Other Countries 12 710 58 5 352 71 10 1,355 129 

Total World 8 419 55 5 333 64 5 555 118 






average 

Total visits 

average average 



Canada 15 384 26 11 397 35 13 472 37 

USA 12 423 35 12 709 61 9 638 73 

North America 13 413 33 12 657 57 9 614 66 

Austria 7 312 44 19 595 32 8 418 53 

Belgium 7 231 35 3 195 58 3 190 65 

Denmark 7 246 35 11 501 46 6 376 61 

Finland 9 273 29 33 691 21 9 453 50 

France 7 145 21 17 671 40 6 229 42 

Germany 7 211 29 16 558 35 7 311 47 

Greece 12 458 39 20 1,071 55 11 802 75 

Irish Republic 8 230 29 10 558 56 7 357 48 

Italy 11 285 25 29 913 31 11 509 45 

Luxembourg 4 637 148 10 522 53 5 447 88 

Netherlands 6 188 33 7 282 43 4 237 55 

Portugal 14 371 27 11 1,037 91 9 533 58 

Spain 13 359 27 35 1,012 29 12 436 38 

Sweden 9 261 30 23 762 33 8 458 60 

EU Europe 8 228 29 17 626 38 7 325 48 

Cyprus 14 573 40 18 1,201 67 13 757 60 

Gibraltar 7 561 84 4 693 158 6 569 95 

Iceland 17 314 19 3 519 179 6 499 84 

Malta 13 472 35 15 376 26 11 572 53 

Norway 7 326 45 5 387 79 5 426 88 

Switzerland 7 257 38 22 1,120 50 7 491 72 

Turkey 17 700 40 31 965 32 14 940 67 


Former USSR 17 356 21 20 1,141 58 15 1,107 72 


Non EU Europe 15 505 34 20 722 37 10 579 57 

North Africa 46 1,991 44 23 1,500 64 24 1,719 71 

South Africa 17 609 36 26 977 38 16 754 47 

Rest of Africa 28 832 30 26 1,603 61 22 1,512 69 

Israel 13 422 33 6 989 176 7 569 82 

Other Middle East 18 1,051 59 16 1,442 92 15 1,375 89 

Hong Kong 13 848 64 12 1,001 81 10 817 83 

India 31 579 19 21 517 24 20 795 39 

Japan 16 556 34 50 2,254 45 13 786 61 

Rest of Asia 22 708 32 48 2,425 50 20 1,121 56 

Australia 23 606 27 24 706 29 19 703 38 

New Zealand 26 609 24 47 837 18 27 721 27 

Caribbean* 38 684 18 7 752 109 22 931 43 

Central & South America* 26 718 28 34 1,840 54 13 849 64 


Other Countries 22 719 32 31 1,559 50 17 934 56 

Total World 12 365 31 19 792 43 9 487 54 

81 

: 4


82 

4.06 Number of visits and spending by duration of stay 1998 

Nil nights 1 to 3 nights 4 to 13 nights 14 to 27 nights 



Canada 4 2 157 30 290 127 150 83 

USA 41 10 1,231 375 1,964 1,336 476 416 

North America 45 12 1,388 405 2,254 1,463 626 499 

Austria 8 1 77 26 123 46 26 19 

Belgium 376 16 570 109 192 67 31 18 

Denmark 37 2 163 54 201 77 25 16 

Finland 6 1 56 16 65 32 13 8 

France 699 29 1,280 207 1,035 234 179 69 

Germany 288 18 1,053 224 1,144 362 272 147 

Greece 1 0 48 37 111 77 18 14 

Irish Republic . . . . . . . . 

Italy 43 3 379 103 407 176 178 114 

Luxembourg 3 0 33 9 20 14 3 1 

Netherlands 269 11 876 181 459 152 98 41 

Portugal 6 1 62 21 84 43 17 10 

Spain 70 4 295 58 337 130 93 49 

Sweden 26 2 280 100 304 139 39 26 

EU Europe 1,832 88 5,174 1,144 4,485 1,550 992 531 

Cyprus 1 0 14 5 35 24 17 10 

Gibraltar . 0 8 3 10 6 3 3 

Iceland 1 0 49 22 21 11 2 1 

Malta 1 0 9 3 24 15 6 3 

Norway 35 3 253 88 196 95 19 13 

Switzerland 40 4 284 97 198 96 38 26 

Turkey 0 0 19 10 39 37 9 7 

Central & Eastern Europe* 17 4 182 28 185 82 51 32 

Former USSR 15 1 50 18 115 77 34 44 

Former Yugoslavia . 0 20 5 17 7 9 8 

Non EU Europe 110 13 888 279 839 449 187 145 

North Africa 1 0 23 14 32 40 12 26 

South Africa 3 2 74 32 118 74 54 50 

Rest of Africa 5 2 43 25 72 71 66 94 

Israel 1 1 64 31 108 64 23 15 

Other Middle East 3 1 85 53 147 178 82 125 

Hong Kong 4 1 50 25 74 59 24 26 

India 1 1 46 15 70 48 29 17 

Japan 6 1 207 50 236 145 47 47 

Rest of Asia 3 1 113 42 187 184 81 82 

Australia 5 1 116 30 215 113 144 112 

New Zealand 0 0 25 6 55 23 40 30 

Caribbean* 1 0 25 11 27 26 25 32 

Central & South America* 16 3 153 48 160 129 29 38 

Rest of the World* 0 0 9 1 0 0 1 2 

Other Countries 49 15 1,031 380 1,502 1,152 656 695 

Total World 2,036 127 8,482 2,208 9,080 4,614 2,461 1,870 





28 to 90 nights 3 to 6 months 6 months to 1 year All visits 



Canada 66 64 5 7 0 5 673 319 

USA 147 237 20 94 2 15 3,880 2,482 

North America 213 301 25 101 2 20 4,553 2,801 

Austria 6 7 1 3 0 0 242 101 

Belgium 14 9 2 6 . . 1,183 225 

Denmark 4 7 3 8 . . 433 163 

Finland 5 6 1 3 0 0 145 66 

France 62 147 14 43 4 21 3,274 750 

Germany 62 90 8 28 3 13 2,830 882 

Greece 15 29 1 1 . . 195 157 

Irish Republic . . . . . . 2,310 824 

Italy 63 100 13 28 5 31 1,090 555 

Luxembourg . . . . 0 3 60 27 

Netherlands 12 10 3 12 0 0 1,718 407 

Portugal 6 11 1 1 1 8 177 94 

Spain 69 81 9 29 5 34 879 384 

Sweden 17 19 8 24 1 0 676 310 

EU Europe 336 513 63 185 21 110 15,212 5,044 

Cyprus 6 10 1 6 . . 74 56 

Gibraltar . . . . . . 20 12 

Iceland 2 2 0 2 . . 75 38 

Malta 3 2 . . . . 42 24 

Norway 6 17 1 3 . . 509 218 

Switzerland 20 45 2 18 0 1 583 287 

Turkey 7 11 1 3 1 3 75 71 


Former USSR 28 45 5 20 2 71 249 276 

Former Yugoslavia 3 1 0 6 1 1 50 27 

Non EU Europe 110 158 23 67 13 148 2,171 1,259 

North Africa 14 27 1 9 4 33 86 149 

South Africa 30 35 3 5 4 19 284 216 

Rest of Africa 53 136 6 22 2 23 246 373 

Israel 2 1 1 2 . . 198 113 


Hong Kong 12 24 0 1 . . 165 135 

India 20 24 6 24 2 10 175 140 

Japan 35 74 9 60 5 52 545 429 

Rest of Asia 53 95 12 41 7 67 456 512 

Australia 105 119 14 42 3 8 603 424 

New Zealand 35 39 8 18 2 4 166 120 

Caribbean* 13 18 4 2 1 0 95 89 


Rest of the World* 1 0 0 5 . . 12 8 

Other Countries 460 818 78 264 32 242 3,809 3,566 

Total World 1,119 1,791 190 617 68 520 25,745 12,671 

83 

: 4


84 

4.07 Number of visits by UK port 1998 

Airports thousands 

Other 

Heathrow Gatwick Manchester Birmingham Stansted England Scotland Wales 

Canada 370 59 42 10 16 38 73 . 

USA 1,859 977 121 83 30 151 127 4 

North America 2,229 1,036 163 93 45 189 200 4 

Austria 115 52 8 2 11 17 6 . 

Belgium 98 18 21 47 20 66 20 3 

Denmark 145 65 18 15 59 12 20 2 

Finland 77 13 9 2 23 5 3 . 

France 395 136 84 93 24 156 37 4 

Germany 902 115 122 169 61 161 34 7 

Greece 108 50 6 . . 19 5 . 


Italy 386 245 36 34 192 78 17 1 

Luxembourg 17 7 4 . 8 2 1 . 

Netherlands 345 68 61 67 64 157 35 18 

Portugal 96 44 4 1 2 6 . . 

Spain 303 176 62 14 4 65 17 1 

Sweden 241 52 22 9 172 69 21 2 

EU Europe 3,229 1,040 457 453 639 814 216 36 

Cyprus 56 5 6 3 1 1 1 . 

Gibraltar 2 15 . . . 2 2 . 

Iceland 17 4 1 1 3 . 50 . 

Malta 25 12 1 1 . 2 . 1 

Norway 183 27 18 4 113 58 23 . 

Switzerland 282 41 24 19 45 106 19 . 

Turkey 61 1 7 1 . 1 . . 


Former USSR 129 80 1 . 1 3 4 . 

Former Yugoslavia 29 12 . 1 . 0 . . 

Non EU Europe 954 231 67 35 164 180 99 3 

North Africa 59 9 5 4 . 3 1 . 

South Africa 211 10 5 1 4 14 2 . 

Rest of Africa 129 87 6 2 2 6 . 1 

Israel 95 60 4 1 21 3 2 . 

Other Middle East 287 34 12 2 . 22 4 3 

Hong Kong 123 6 9 2 . 9 1 . 

India 146 3 8 2 3 4 2 . 

Japan 427 11 2 6 7 15 6 1 

Rest of Asia 358 19 21 1 2 17 3 1 

Australia 407 34 18 2 5 33 3 . 

New Zealand 103 12 6 1 1 13 . . 

Caribbean* 39 38 1 . 2 2 . . 

Central & South America* 134 80 2 4 6 6 3 . 

Rest of the World* 4 . . . . 1 . . 

Other Countries 2,521 403 99 27 54 147 26 6 

Total World 8,934 2,709 785 608 902 1,329 541 49 




Sea and Channel Tunnel thousands 

Dover and Other East coast Long haul Channel All air and 

Folkestone channel ports ports sea routes Tunnel sea ports 

Canada 29 2 3 1 30 673 

USA 101 12 12 35 369 3,880 

North America 130 14 15 36 399 4,553 

Austria 18 . 4 . 10 242 

Belgium 384 1 48 . 459 1,183 

Denmark 24 1 69 . 4 433 

Finland 5 . 4 1 2 145 

France 754 415 9 1 1,166 3,274 

Germany 615 12 210 1 421 2,830 

Greece 2 . . . 5 195 

Irish Republic . . . . . 2,310 

Italy 73 2 1 . 22 1,090 

Luxembourg 10 1 1 . 8 60 

Netherlands 289 1 319 1 296 1,718 

Portugal 19 1 . . 4 177 

Spain 96 87 2 . 52 879 

Sweden 8 2 75 . 3 676 

EU Europe 2,298 523 744 4 2,451 15,212 

Cyprus . . . . 0 74 

Gibraltar . . . . . 20 

Iceland . . . . . 75 

Malta . . . . 0 42 

Norway . 1 77 . 6 509 

Switzerland 30 2 4 . 11 583 

Turkey . . . . 4 75 

Central & Eastern Europe* 244 2 5 . 14 493 

Former USSR 26 1 . . 3 249 

Former Yugoslavia 5 . 2 . 0 50 

Non EU Europe 305 6 89 . 40 2,171 

North Africa 2 . 1 . 3 86 

South Africa 23 2 0 . 11 284 

Rest of Africa 2 2 . . 8 246 

Israel . . . . 12 198 

Other Middle East 2 . . . 8 374 

Hong Kong 8 2 . . 6 165 

India 2 . . . 6 175 

Japan 4 . . 1 65 545 

Rest of Asia 3 2 4 . 26 456 

Australia 39 13 3 4 42 603 

New Zealand 13 5 1 . 12 166 

Caribbean* 3 1 1 . 8 95 

Central & South America* 75 4 2 . 88 404 

Rest of the World* 7 . . . . 12 

Other Countries 183 31 12 5 295 3,809 

Total World 2,915 574 860 45 3,184 25,745 


85 

: 4


86 

4.08 Number of visits by type of vehicle used 1998 

Air Sea and Channel Tunnel 

thousands 

All Private Goods Vehicle type All sea and 

travellers Foot vehicle Coach vehicle unknown Channel Tunnel 

Canada 608 46 5 13 . . 65 

USA 3,351 451 46 29 3 . 529 

North America 3,959 497 51 42 3 . 594 

Austria 210 5 9 6 11 1 32 

Belgium 291 315 308 200 68 1 892 

Denmark 336 50 27 17 3 . 97 

Finland 134 3 3 5 . 0 11 

France 928 904 583 659 198 1 2,346 

Germany 1,570 181 563 458 54 3 1,260 

Greece 188 4 1 . 1 . 7 

Irish Republic 1,622 . . . . 688 688 

Italy 991 11 41 15 32 . 99 

Luxembourg 39 5 13 . 2 . 21 

Netherlands 813 177 409 237 79 3 905 

Portugal 153 1 2 7 13 . 24 

Spain 642 73 40 50 70 3 237 

Sweden 588 28 47 9 1 3 88 

EU Europe 8,505 1,757 2,048 1,665 533 705 6,708 

Cyprus 74 0 . . . . 0 

Gibraltar 20 . . . . . . 

Iceland 75 . . . . . . 

Malta 42 0 . . . . 0 

Norway 425 61 16 1 1 5 84 

Switzerland 536 14 27 0 6 . 47 

Turkey 71 4 . . 0 . 4 

Central & Eastern Europe* 228 5 30 180 48 2 265 

Former USSR 218 3 3 24 . . 30 

Former Yugoslavia 43 2 0 . 5 . 8 

Non EU Europe 1,732 90 76 205 61 7 439 

North Africa 80 2 1 4 . . 6 

South Africa 248 14 10 12 1 . 37 

Rest of Africa 234 7 4 1 . . 12 

Israel 186 12 . . . . 12 

Other Middle East 364 8 2 . . . 10 

Hong Kong 149 9 2 5 . . 16 

India 167 6 . 2 . . 7 

Japan 475 68 . 2 . . 70 

Rest of Asia 422 25 8 . 2 . 35 

Australia 501 58 22 18 3 . 101 

New Zealand 135 16 4 11 . . 30 

Caribbean* 82 4 2 6 . 1 14 

Central & South America* 235 88 4 76 . 2 169 

Rest of the World* 4 7 . . . . 7 

Other Countries 3,283 324 59 136 5 2 526 

Total World 17,479 2,668 2,234 2,048 602 713 8,266 


4.09 Number of visits and spending by purpose of visit and gender 1998 


Male Female 


Leisure Business Leisure Business 



Canada 284 123 62 55 312 130 14 11 

USA 1,465 838 690 610 1,587 904 138 131 

North America 1,750 961 752 665 1,899 1,034 153 141 

Austria 74 30 59 25 101 41 9 5 

Belgium 428 85 295 54 402 66 58 21 

Denmark 139 47 112 54 160 53 23 10 

Finland 32 11 41 17 47 26 24 12 

France 1,042 206 844 189 1,217 311 171 45 

Germany 1,014 318 647 227 1,046 288 124 48 

Greece 57 35 38 51 90 62 9 9 

Irish Republic (estimated) 761 271 608 222 817 277 123 54 

Italy 351 179 265 124 405 218 69 35 

Luxembourg 19 4 12 4 27 17 3 1 

Netherlands 588 142 500 129 571 124 59 13 

Portugal 56 36 49 21 62 30 10 7 

Spain 297 156 208 80 339 130 36 19 

Sweden 203 92 183 109 227 81 63 29 

EU Europe 5,062 1,660 3,859 1,305 5,510 1,772 780 307 

Cyprus 32 30 14 12 27 13 1 1 

Gibraltar 7 4 2 1 11 7 . . 

Iceland 30 12 7 6 37 19 2 1 

Malta 17 9 6 5 16 7 3 3 

Norway 192 79 117 58 176 66 24 15 

Switzerland 196 80 160 88 202 94 25 25 

Turkey 23 16 21 22 24 23 7 10 


Former USSR 71 51 47 52 97 71 34 101 


Non EU Europe 726 332 533 303 784 443 128 181 

North Africa 31 41 25 46 26 56 4 6 

South Africa 114 91 48 49 116 66 7 10 

Rest of Africa 96 123 51 149 86 84 13 17 

Israel 71 42 37 25 84 42 5 4 


Hong Kong 74 58 27 26 59 44 6 7 

India 69 37 48 67 53 27 4 9 

Japan 163 121 92 96 279 202 12 9 

Rest of Asia 193 221 88 91 159 178 16 21 

Australia 266 186 48 56 279 173 10 11 

New Zealand 80 56 11 10 71 51 4 2 

Caribbean* 44 45 8 12 41 29 2 3 



Other Countries 1,560 1,420 583 798 1,572 1,229 94 119 

Total World 9,098 4,373 5,727 3,071 9,765 4,478 1,155 749 

87 

: 4


88 

4.10 Number of visits and spending by age group 1998 

Age 0-15 Age 16-24 Age 25-34 Age 35-44 



Canada 38 10 69 30 101 47 125 63 

USA 188 74 426 294 684 436 800 513 

North America 227 84 495 324 785 482 925 577 

Austria 33 12 44 22 49 18 54 20 

Belgium 96 17 146 23 231 48 269 37 

Denmark 29 10 70 28 95 41 93 30 

Finland 9 3 24 11 40 17 34 16 

France 340 46 606 251 755 156 741 142 

Germany 273 57 450 141 739 256 626 201 

Greece 8 4 28 14 42 39 43 28 


Italy 83 34 188 139 303 176 222 82 

Luxembourg 5 0 7 4 13 5 16 5 

Netherlands 96 18 239 46 430 106 429 109 

Portugal 17 5 22 12 43 19 44 29 

Spain 58 21 161 89 255 111 160 84 

Sweden 42 12 96 55 136 59 146 76 

EU Europe 1,088 241 2,081 834 3,130 1,053 2,879 860 

Cyprus 7 5 7 9 21 18 15 7 

Gibraltar 1 2 0 0 3 2 3 1 

Iceland 4 1 12 8 17 8 14 8 

Malta 3 1 7 3 11 9 7 4 

Norway 37 9 66 31 120 61 115 57 

Switzerland 29 7 91 84 136 52 155 68 

Turkey 6 4 8 9 20 15 18 20 


Former USSR 37 33 45 37 79 76 51 105 


Non EU Europe 160 71 354 214 561 383 481 303 

North Africa 6 6 6 11 22 31 21 34 

South Africa 14 8 39 31 56 40 48 34 

Rest of Africa 16 10 14 17 56 118 70 92 

Israel 15 7 18 7 44 21 42 24 


Hong Kong 9 7 15 15 51 40 48 30 

India 11 6 13 10 45 53 39 34 

Japan 24 21 124 153 162 107 94 65 

Rest of Asia 31 16 40 67 122 138 111 112 

Australia 32 15 70 41 124 100 99 69 

New Zealand 11 5 16 21 45 33 22 11 

Caribbean* 5 4 5 2 19 14 22 18 



Other Countries 229 149 476 497 923 866 786 733 

Total World 1,703 544 3,407 1,870 5,399 2,784 5,071 2,473 





Age 45-54 Age 55-64 Age 65 and over All visits 



Canada 143 69 109 54 88 47 673 319 

USA 887 583 547 354 348 229 3,880 2,482 

North America 1,030 651 656 407 436 275 4,553 2,801 

Austria 40 20 18 7 5 1 242 101 

Belgium 285 65 105 27 51 7 1,183 225 

Denmark 99 37 35 13 12 4 433 163 

Finland 27 15 8 2 3 1 145 66 

France 558 111 195 32 79 12 3,274 750 

Germany 447 133 215 66 80 29 2,830 882 

Greece 47 40 20 24 7 6 195 157 


Italy 196 84 71 29 26 11 1,090 555 

Luxembourg 14 9 6 3 . 0 60 27 

Netherlands 356 79 122 35 45 14 1,718 407 

Portugal 29 16 16 11 6 2 177 94 

Spain 139 43 64 28 42 8 879 384 

Sweden 150 62 80 37 25 8 676 310 

EU Europe 2,388 715 955 314 382 104 15,212 5,044 

Cyprus 12 11 8 6 3 0 74 56 

Gibraltar 8 4 4 3 1 1 20 12 

Iceland 21 9 6 2 0 0 75 38 

Malta 9 4 3 2 3 2 42 24 

Norway 109 41 43 14 20 5 509 218 

Switzerland 109 50 44 16 19 10 583 287 

Turkey 15 13 8 7 1 2 75 71 


Former USSR 28 18 8 5 1 1 249 276 

Former Yugoslavia 8 5 3 6 . . 50 27 

Non EU Europe 405 198 157 70 52 21 2,171 1,259 

North Africa 23 54 6 10 2 4 86 149 

South Africa 66 53 42 30 19 20 284 216 

Rest of Africa 52 76 29 48 8 10 246 373 

Israel 46 29 21 14 12 12 198 113 


Hong Kong 34 31 6 8 2 3 165 135 

India 41 26 18 8 9 2 175 140 

Japan 88 52 34 19 18 11 545 429 

Rest of Asia 100 92 42 66 10 23 456 512 

Australia 130 94 91 62 57 43 603 424 

New Zealand 27 17 28 20 16 13 166 120 

Caribbean* 23 31 15 15 7 5 95 89 


Rest of the World* 2 1 . 0 1 0 12 8 


Total World 4,635 2,349 2,165 1,159 1,055 570 25,745 12,671 

89 

: 4


90 

4.11 Number of visits, nights and spending by UK region of visit 1998 

Total Purposes 

of which Visiting 

inclusive friends or 

Holiday tour Business relatives Other 

Visits Nights Spending Visits Visits Visits Visits Visits 

(000s) (000s) (£million) (000s) (000s) (000s) (000s) (000s) 

Bedfordshire 127 978 43 40 4 39 37 11 

Berkshire 466 3,491 197 159 31 150 123 33 

Bristol UA 242 1,557 64 103 23 60 59 20 

Buckinghamshire 241 2,013 68 68 6 79 82 12 

Cambridgeshire 460 4,272 199 152 27 130 103 75 

Cheshire 255 1,778 84 90 27 79 71 15 

Cornwall 297 1,961 60 209 35 8 57 23 

Cumbria 260 1,315 45 179 33 19 49 13 

Derbyshire 111 642 28 39 2 35 32 5 

Devon 477 4,151 185 262 61 46 105 65 

Dorset 386 5,489 178 173 61 36 105 72 

Durham 89 585 19 37 5 17 32 3 

East Sussex 588 6,854 301 266 79 74 145 103 

East Yorkshire 20 127 2 13 1 2 4 1 

Essex 339 2,492 83 115 28 60 132 33 

Gloucestershire 211 1,467 55 109 13 35 46 20 

Hampshire 521 3,625 135 193 34 121 168 39 

Hereford/Worcs 137 1,248 34 45 4 31 55 6 

Hertfordshire 297 2,444 96 89 28 69 115 24 

Hull UA 49 526 23 9 1 10 23 7 

Isle of Wight 51 329 13 26 9 2 19 4 

Kent 775 5,620 181 349 63 155 192 79 

Lancashire 231 1,812 61 85 12 42 77 27 

Leicestershire 164 1,506 61 39 5 63 50 11 

Lincolnshire 130 1,081 41 39 3 40 42 9 

London 12,269 84,824 6,293 6,194 2,155 2,725 2,061 1,289 

Manchester 508 3,900 176 114 12 189 148 57 

Merseyside 232 2,121 74 65 11 61 85 20 

Norfolk 199 2,090 91 65 16 36 65 33 

Northamptonshire 108 804 28 23 2 40 36 9 

Northumberland 64 349 15 33 3 11 17 3 

North Yorkshire 451 2,292 100 293 81 49 91 19 

Nottinghamshire 225 2,010 69 57 10 89 63 16 

Oxfordshire 536 4,578 208 220 46 112 122 82 

Shropshire 115 758 21 59 10 21 34 1 

Somerset 453 2,252 99 259 54 58 113 23 

South Yorkshire 146 1,693 61 32 4 48 51 15 

Staffordshire 144 942 34 33 3 48 58 5 

Surrey 754 4,350 271 223 55 169 184 177 

Suffolk 176 1,177 40 55 7 42 63 15 

Tees Valley 42 387 14 12 1 9 17 4 

Tyne & Wear 265 1,967 81 106 13 73 64 22 

Warwickshire 288 1,576 55 141 48 71 58 18 

West Midlands 671 5,031 239 133 24 336 150 52 

West Sussex 290 1,890 74 107 16 58 97 28 

West Yorkshire 287 2,939 94 81 8 91 90 26 

Wiltshire 260 1,164 61 129 21 54 58 19 

England unspecified 69 299 11 30 12 18 17 4 

Total England 19,907 186,483 10,458 8,442 2,678 4,888 4,260 2,317 


4.11 Number of visits, nights and spending by UK region of visit 1998 

Total Purposes 



of which Visiting 

inclusive friends or 

Holiday tour Business relatives Other 

Visits Nights Spending Visits Visits Visits Visits Visits 

(000s) (000s) £million (000s) (000s) (000s) (000s) (000s) 

Grampian 188 1,198 48 110 20 25 45 7 

Tayside 194 1,279 71 124 25 22 38 9 

Borders 39 179 7 28 3 3 6 2 

Central 119 613 29 91 19 13 12 3 

Dumfries & Galloway 53 214 9 42 6 4 7 0 

Fife 124 1,108 43 79 18 11 30 3 

Lothian 1,088 5,583 303 728 237 146 142 71 

Highlands 507 2,376 108 426 103 19 55 8 

Islands 34 188 10 27 5 2 4 2 

Argyle 130 700 21 100 24 3 22 6 

Strathclyde 115 603 32 68 10 13 32 3 

Greater Glasgow 532 4,042 189 283 88 95 124 31 

Scotland unspecified 43 301 11 36 7 1 6 . 

Total Scotland 1,947 18,384 882 1,149 318 299 381 118 

Aberconway/Colwyn 56 276 7 33 6 2 18 3 

Anglesey 27 108 2 17 1 0 9 1 

Blaenau Gwent 2 7 0 1 . 1 . . 

Bridgend 19 245 6 7 1 4 7 1 

Caernarfonshire/Meriotnidd 79 575 15 42 12 4 25 9 

Caerphilly 7 25 1 2 0 . 5 . 

Cardiff 177 899 33 84 37 39 43 11 

Cardiganshire 29 179 5 16 3 1 10 2 

Carmarthenshire 35 231 7 19 2 1 11 3 

Denbighshire 45 304 8 27 15 3 13 1 

Flintshire 8 70 4 4 1 1 3 . 

Merthyr Tydfil 2 5 0 0 . 1 1 . 

Monmouthshire 46 266 9 21 2 5 18 2 

Neath/Port Talbot 7 53 3 1 . 2 3 0 

Newport 29 258 11 10 3 11 6 2 

Pembrokeshire 40 409 15 23 2 3 10 3 

Powes 42 133 5 30 6 1 9 2 

Rhondda 12 74 3 6 . 3 3 . 

Swansea 65 496 17 29 4 13 20 2 

Torfaen 9 40 1 1 . 4 3 . 

Vale of Glamorgan 6 122 2 5 . . 2 . 

Wrexham 26 184 5 6 3 4 14 1 

Wales unspecified 50 123 5 42 9 1 4 3 

Total Wales 718 5,082 164 366 97 99 210 44 

Northern Ireland 109 2,187 47 42 3 25 36 7 

Nights spent Travelling 464 559 32 253 74 87 73 51 

Isle of Man 21 169 5 8 0 4 7 2 

Channel Islands 34 335 18 19 5 5 8 1 

UK area unknown 26 63 3 17 7 4 4 1 

All staying Visits 21,399 213,534 11,621 9,139 2,824 5,198 4,613 2,449 

Nil Nights 2,036 0 102 735 . 953 50 298 

All visits to the UK 23,435 213,534 11,723 9,874 2,824 6,151 4,663 2,747 

91 

: 4


92 


UK residents’ visits 

abroad 1998 


UK residents’ visits 1998 

Chapter 5 

Visits abroad 

(thousands) 

2,000 + 

1,000 - 1,999 

500 - 999 

100 - 499 

50 - 99 

0 - 49 

93 

: 5

5 : UK residents’ visits 1998 



94 

Sea 

21% 



5.03 Visits and spending 


per cent 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

Air 

Sea 

Tunnel 

Tunnel 

12% 

Air 

67% 

Visits Spending 


Non EU Europe 

EU Europe 

North America 

£ 

0 100 200 300 400 500 

Chapter 5 

UK residents’ visits abroad 1998 

In 1998 UK residents made a total of 50.9 million visits, stayed for 

509.2 million nights and spent £19.5 billion. This chapter looks at 

various aspects of travel by UK residents in that year. 


Table 5.01 gives a breakdown of visits and spending by mode of 

travel and area of the world visited. Air travel was the most popular 

mode of transport, accounting for 67 per cent of all visits and an even 

higher proportion of 79 per cent of the total spending. Sea travel was 

used on 21 per cent of visits with the Channel Tunnel accounting for 

the remaining 12 per cent of visits (figure 5.01). UK residents spent 

on average £383 per visit abroad, with £449 spent per visit by air and 

£200 less spent on sea or tunnel visits (figure 5.02). This large 

difference is due to a combination of factors, including the longer 

average duration of visits made by air of 12.2 nights, compared to 

sea and tunnel visits, which lasted on average only 5.6 nights. 

Visits and spending by area of visit 

The most popular area of visit for UK residents was EU Europe, which 

accounted for 73 per cent of all visits (figure 5.03). Visits to ‘Other 

Countries’ accounted for a further 10 per cent of visits, with North 

America and non-EU Europe each accounting for eight per cent of all 

visits. The highest average expenditures of UK residents’ visits abroad 

were on visits to non-European destinations, with £780 spent on 

average on visits to North America, and £760 on visits to ‘Other 

Countries’. 


Holidays were the main reason for UK residents’ visits, and accounted 

for 64 per cent of all visits, with inclusive tour holidays accounting for 

over half of all holiday visits. The second most common reason for 

travel was for business purposes, followed by visits to friends or 

relations and finally visits within the miscellaneous purposes category 

(figure 5.04). 

Holiday visits accounted for nearly two thirds of spending by UK 

residents abroad. Business visits accounted for a further fifth of 

expenditure and showed the highest levels of spending per visit. Low 

average spend per visits were recorded for those on visits to friends 

or relations, or for miscellaneous purposes. 


As detailed in chapter 4, three new categories of purpose of visit were 

recorded in 1998: shopping, visiting friends and visiting family. The 

2.8 million visits made for shopping trips during 1998, were 

predominately made to France, accounting for 22 per cent of all visits 

to France by UK residents. Most shopping visits were primarily day 

trips (77 per cent of all shopping visits) or visits of just one night (a 

further 14 per cent). 

The top destinations for visits to friends and visits to family, excluding 

the 1.6 million visits to the Irish Republic (for which the breakdown 

into friends and family is not available from the IPS) are shown in 

figure 5.05. 

Visits to family far outnumbered the number of visits made by UK 

residents to friends overseas during 1998. The most popular countries 

for visits to both friends and family were generally within the EU, the 

USA, Canada, Australia, and to a lesser extent, India and Pakistan. 

Visits and spending by quarter 

Table 5.02 details the breakdown of visits and spending by UK 

residents abroad for each quarter of 1998, by area and purpose of 

visit. Holiday visits showed a high level of seasonality (figure 5.06) 

with 38 per cent of visits being made in quarter 3. For all the areas of 

the world, the number of visits and spending peaked in the third quarter 

except for visits to ‘Other Countries’, which had the lowest number of 

visits and spending in the third quarter. 

Visits, nights and spending by country of visit 

Table 5.03 provides a detailed breakdown of UK residents’ visits 

abroad by country and purpose of visit. The top five countries visited 

by UK residents in 1998 were France with 11.5 million visits followed 

by Spain, the Irish Republic, USA and Germany (figure 5.07). These 

top five countries accounted for 60 per cent of total visits by UK 

residents abroad. 

Figure 5.08 shows the number of visits and spending by country of 

visit, split between business and leisure visits. France was the top 

destination for both business and leisure visits. There were 1.4 million 

business visits to France accounting for 18 per cent of visits for this 

purpose. However, the USA despite accounting for only nine per cent 



5.04 Visits by purpose of visit 

Holiday 

Business 

VFR 

Misc 

0 10 20 30 

millions 

40 

5.05 Visits to friends and relatives 


thousands 

France 

USA 

Germany 

Spain 

Netherlands 

Italy 

Canada 

Australia 

Belgium 

India 

Pakistan 

5.06 Visits by purpose of visit and 

by quarter of year 

millions 

15 

10 

5 

0 

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 

Visit relatives Visit friends 


Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 

95 

: 5


5.07 Top five destinations 


5.08 

96 

France 

Spain 


USA 

Germany 

0 3 6 9 

millions 

12 

Visits and spending by country of visit and main reason for visit 

visits (millions) 

of business visits, accounted for the highest level of expenditure by 

those on such visits. 

UK residents’ stayed a total of 108 million nights in Spain. This record 

level was twice that of the next highest destinations of the USA and 

France, which in turn had twice as many nights recorded as Greece 

and the Irish Republic. 

The highest level of spending, £3.2 billion was made on trips to Spain. 

Other destinations, which attracted high levels of spending, were USA, 

France and Italy. These four countries accounted for half the total 

expenditure by UK residents abroad. 

Spending (£ billion) 

12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 1 2 3 4 

Canada 

USA 

Austria 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Finland 

France 

Germany 

Greece 


Italy 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Portugal 

Spain 

Sweden 

Cyprus 

Gibraltar 

Iceland 

Malta 

Norway 

Switzerland 

Turkey 

Central & Eastern Europe* 

Former USSR 

Former Yugoslavia 

North Africa 

South Africa 

Rest of Africa 

Israel 

Other Middle East 

Hong Kong 

India 

Japan 

Rest of Asia 

Australia 

New Zealand 

Caribbean* 

Central & South America* 

Rest of the World* 

Business 

Leisure 


In looking at the holiday visits, Spain was the top holiday destination 

for UK residents with 8.9 million visits (28 per cent of all holiday visits). 

Nearly two thirds (5.8 million visits) of holiday visits to Spain were on 

package tours. The second most visited country on holiday was France 

with 6.5 million visits, with a third of these being package holidays. 

Average length of stay and spending 

Table 5.04 gives a detailed breakdown of the average length of stay, 

spending per visit and spending per day, by country visited and purpose 

of visit for UK residents travelling overseas. 

UK residents spent the most per visit on average when visiting North 

America or ‘Other Countries’ with spending of £779 and £760 

respectively (figure 5.09). For visits to North America the high 

spending per visit was generated by the largest level of average 

spending per day of any other region of the world. For ‘Other 

Countries’, the long average length of stay was the main factor in 

determining the high level of average spending per visit (figures 5.10 

and 5.11). Visits that included Australia or New Zealand as a main 

destination lasted on average over 45 days, and attracted spending 

of over £1,200 per visit. 

UK residents visiting countries within the EU produced the shortest 

average length of stay of seven nights, and the lowest average 

spending per visit of £286. Average length of stay and spending per 

visit on visits to Belgium were lower than on visits to the rest of the 

EU, with visits typically lasting only two nights and with spending of 

£183 per visit. 

In terms of the purpose of UK residents’ visits abroad, those made for 

business purposes generated the highest average spending per visit 

of £513, owing to the highest spending per day of any purpose. Those 

making visits for miscellaneous purposes generated the lowest 

average spending per visit of £245. This low amount is attributable to 

the relatively short average length of stay of UK residents’ visits within 

the miscellaneous category, mainly due to the number of short 

shopping trips taken. 


Table 5.05 details the breakdown of UK residents’ visits and spending 

abroad by country of visit and by length of stay. The distribution of 

visits by length of stay is shown in figure 5.12. 





£ 



£ 

1000 

800 

600 

400 

200 

0 

60 

40 

20 

0 



nights 

30 

20 

10 

0 

North 

America 

North 

America 

North 

America 

EU 

Europe 

EU 

Europe 

EU 

Europe 

Non EU 

Europe 

Non EU 

Europe 

Non EU 

Europe 

Other 

Countries 

Other 

Countries 

Other 

Countries 

Total 

World 

Total 

World 

Total 

World 

97 

: 5



by duration of stay 

98 

Nil nights 

1 to 3 nights 




3 to 6 months 

6 months to 1 year 


by UK port 

millions 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

Heathrow 

Gatwick 

Channel Tunnel 

Manchester 

Dover/Folkestone 

Birmingham 

Stansted 

0 5 10 15 

millions 

20 

millions 

0 2 4 6 8 10 


by purpose and gender 

Male Female 

Leisure Business 

Overall, the greatest proportion (37 per cent) of UK residents’ visits 

abroad during 1998 fell into the 4 to 13 nights of stay category with 

18.8 million visits. However, as might be expected, visits to the more 

distant locations within North America and ‘Other Countries’ peaked 

in the longer duration of stay category of 14 to 27 nights. 

Excluding visits to the Irish Republic, UK residents made 4.8 million 

day-trips during 1998, the majority of which were to France with four 

million UK day visitors. The remaining 0.8 million visits were largely 

to Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. 

The EU Europe share of all visits abroad by duration of stay, by UK 

residents was 94 per cent of all visits of less than four nights, 64 per 

cent of visits lasting 4 to 27 nights, but only 30 per cent of longer visits 

of 28 nights or more. 

Visit by port 

Table 5.06 shows the number of UK residents’ visits by each of the 

main ports of entry to the UK by country of visit during 1998. The 

Channel Tunnel has for the first year overtaken both Manchester airport 

and the Dover/Folkestone sea routes as the third most used port, 

behind Heathrow and Gatwick (figure 5.13). 

UK residents are continuing to rely less on the main airports of 

Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester when travelling abroad, with these 

three airports accounting for 47 per cent of visits abroad during 1998 

compared to 52 per cent during 1994. 

Visits by vehicle type 

Table 5.07 shows the breakdown of UK residents’ visits abroad by 

vehicle type used, for those 16.6 million travellers who travelled by 

sea or via the Channel Tunnel during 1998. Over half of these visits 

were by private vehicle, with the rest split between coach and foot. 

UK residents largely used private vehicles when travelling to our near 

EU neighbours: France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. 

Visits and spending by gender 

Table 5.08 shows a breakdown of UK residents’ visits abroad by 

gender and country of visit for both business and leisure purposes. 

Whilst males made seven million more visits than females during 


1998, the bulk of this difference is accounted for by the additional 

business visits made by males (figure 5.14). Businessmen made 

five overseas trips abroad for each trip by businesswomen. 

Visits and spending by age group 

Table 5.09 shows the breakdown of UK residents’ visits and spending 

by age group and country of visit. The greatest numbers of visits 

made during 1998 were by those in the 45 to 54 age group, with 10.1 

million visitors and £4.2 billion spending. Travellers in the 35 to 44 

and 25 to 34 age groups age groups closely followed this, with 9.7 

million and 9.5 million visits respectively (figure 5.15). 



by age group 

0-15 

16-24 

25-34 

35-44 

45-54 

55-64 

65+ 


millions 

0 3 6 9 12 

99 

: 5


100 

5.01 Number of visits and spending by mode of travel and purpose of visit 1998 

Air Sea Channel Tunnel Total 



North America 

Holiday 2,576 1,993 14 5 1 0 2,591 1,998 

of which inclusive tour 952 804 . . . . 952 804 

Business 771 815 . . . . 771 815 

Visiting friends or relatives 688 316 2 1 . . 690 316 

Miscellaneous 105 109 . . . . 105 109 

All visits 4,140 3,233 17 5 1 0 4,158 3,239 

EU Europe 

Holiday 14,606 5,005 5,814 1,407 3,090 745 23,510 7,157 

of which inclusive tour 9,115 3,167 1,955 606 1,257 331 12,328 4,104 

Business 3,979 1,361 912 367 987 286 5,878 2,014 

Visiting friends or relatives 2,188 459 1,497 273 444 84 4,129 815 

Miscellaneous 460 153 1,770 301 1,489 213 3,719 667 

All visits 21,233 6,977 9,993 2,348 6,011 1,328 37,237 10,653 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 2,867 1,004 136 54 54 28 3,058 1,086 

of which inclusive tour 2,123 726 57 27 23 13 2,203 766 

Business 670 390 43 49 13 7 725 446 


Miscellaneous 70 36 8 3 . . 78 39 

All visits 4,004 1,517 236 118 74 37 4,315 1,672 


Holiday 2,896 2,000 251 254 . . 3,147 2,254 

of which inclusive tour 1,706 986 247 252 . . 1,953 1,238 

Business 657 849 . . . . 657 849 

Visiting friends or relatives 1,176 636 . . 2 1 1,179 636 

Miscellaneous 177 185 . . 3 1 180 186 

All visits 4,907 3,670 251 254 5 2 5,163 3,926 

Total World 

Holiday 22,945 10,003 6,216 1,720 3,145 773 32,306 12,495 

of which inclusive tour 13,897 5,684 2,260 885 1,280 345 17,437 6,913 

Business 6,077 3,414 955 416 1,000 293 8,033 4,124 

Visiting friends or relatives 4,449 1,497 1,549 286 454 86 6,452 1,869 

Miscellaneous 812 482 1,778 304 1,492 215 4,082 1,001 

All visits 34,283 15,397 10,498 2,726 6,092 1,367 50,872 19,489 




5.02 Number of visits and spending by quarter of year and purpose of visit 1998 

January - March April - June July - September October - December 



North America 

Holiday 416 309 603 464 903 733 668 492 


Business 182 206 216 221 180 185 193 204 



All visits 741 574 1,029 821 1,323 1,041 1,065 801 

EU Europe 

Holiday 3,582 1,074 6,339 1,776 9,173 3,116 4,416 1,190 

of which inclusive tour 1,783 594 3,463 1,043 4,889 1,849 2,193 619 

Business 1,361 432 1,505 530 1,402 443 1,611 608 

Visiting friends or relatives 734 129 1,056 189 1,380 327 958 172 

Miscellaneous 797 104 910 217 723 134 1,288 212 

All visits 6,475 1,739 9,810 2,712 12,679 4,019 8,274 2,182 

Non EU Europe 

Holiday 334 126 749 264 1,422 528 552 169 

of which inclusive tour 207 74 543 192 1,035 379 418 120 

Business 154 91 174 89 181 144 217 123 



All visits 595 244 1,048 383 1,792 717 880 328 


Holiday 798 622 827 567 732 497 790 568 


Business 154 216 181 192 122 148 201 293 



All visits 1,368 1,088 1,356 969 1,180 839 1,260 1,029 

Total World 

Holiday 5,131 2,131 8,518 3,071 12,230 4,873 6,427 2,419 

of which inclusive tour 2,580 1,098 4,784 1,756 6,688 2,786 3,385 1,273 

Business 1,851 946 2,076 1,031 1,884 920 2,221 1,227 

Visiting friends or relatives 1,327 413 1,628 447 2,038 600 1,458 408 

Miscellaneous 869 156 1,020 335 821 224 1,372 286 

All visits 9,178 3,646 13,242 4,885 16,974 6,617 11,479 4,341 

101 

: 5


102 






Canada 344 5,254 266 149 1,842 132 56 642 41 

USA 2,247 34,093 1,732 803 11,009 672 715 7,435 774 

North America 2,591 39,347 1,998 952 12,851 804 771 8,077 815 

Austria 409 3,321 180 295 2,279 123 78 437 46 

Belgium 739 1,676 121 285 894 62 593 1,335 146 

Denmark 55 319 12 5 36 1 104 422 37 

Finland 27 191 8 7 51 3 56 222 19 

France 6,530 36,872 1,596 2,327 15,041 705 1,419 4,559 439 

Germany 587 3,888 146 229 1,163 64 942 3,764 355 

Greece 1,709 20,492 605 1,463 16,779 508 51 513 30 

Irish Republic 1,137 5,974 265 . . . 914 2,239 148 

Italy 1,294 12,115 619 790 6,761 380 453 2,739 317 

Luxembourg 11 52 3 2 12 1 38 112 8 

Netherlands 886 3,429 217 403 1,545 102 714 2,195 201 

Portugal 1,163 13,089 421 716 7,413 256 62 544 28 

Spain 8,895 98,842 2,922 5,802 62,105 1,895 296 2,426 182 

Sweden 67 656 21 5 40 2 158 617 56 

EU Europe 23,510 200,917 7,157 12,328 114,119 4,104 5,878 22,124 2,014 

Cyprus 851 10,179 358 658 7,452 282 16 98 6 

Gibraltar 17 164 5 3 16 1 9 51 5 

Iceland 23 183 10 18 112 7 9 34 5 

Malta 418 4,798 101 327 3,521 76 16 107 10 

Norway 100 1,018 31 28 247 14 99 765 74 

Switzerland 302 2,668 162 121 1,036 75 250 841 115 

Turkey 957 11,755 285 831 9,897 230 39 219 22 

Central & Eastern Europe* 278 2,390 85 142 1,208 47 188 1,219 114 

Former USSR 46 553 28 27 283 21 71 829 79 


Non EU Europe 3,058 34,568 1,086 2,203 24,281 766 725 4,303 446 

North Africa 517 5,489 154 459 4,642 129 63 921 56 

South Africa 166 3,764 166 33 488 40 37 547 49 

Rest of Africa 171 3,582 115 100 1,451 71 43 743 53 

Israel 96 1,391 50 55 555 32 19 107 16 


Hong Kong 74 1,104 23 44 341 7 44 387 41 

India 235 5,934 124 111 1,669 47 38 759 35 

Japan 26 563 18 2 17 1 64 831 88 

Rest of Asia 448 12,398 390 199 2,988 150 149 3,071 202 

Australia 166 7,030 240 28 728 48 34 730 70 

New Zealand 43 2,123 69 7 240 19 8 120 11 

Caribbean* 580 9,366 376 420 5,909 265 27 535 49 

Central & South America* 260 4,489 202 192 2,879 137 56 790 98 

Rest of the World* 287 3,472 288 280 3,279 277 2 16 7 

Other Countries 3,147 61,775 2,254 1,953 25,406 1,238 657 10,591 849 

Total World 32,306 336,606 12,495 17,437 176,658 6,913 8,033 45,095 4,124 






Total visits 



Canada 201 4,787 90 15 401 16 616 11,083 412 

USA 489 9,822 227 90 2,445 93 3,542 53,795 2,827 

North America 690 14,609 316 105 2,846 109 4,158 64,878 3,239 

Austria 36 351 9 11 294 6 535 4,403 241 

Belgium 178 957 21 189 131 23 1,699 4,098 311 

Denmark 67 867 19 5 67 2 231 1,675 69 

Finland 18 282 4 6 291 9 108 986 40 

France 655 5,063 153 2,914 4,365 474 11,518 50,860 2,663 

Germany 459 4,433 83 74 712 13 2,062 12,797 597 

Greece 91 2,556 14 9 466 2 1,860 24,027 651 

Irish Republic 1,611 12,480 294 275 1,715 42 3,937 22,409 749 

Italy 218 2,768 67 47 536 22 2,012 18,158 1,025 

Luxembourg 11 95 1 2 149 0 61 408 12 

Netherlands 293 1,861 43 59 272 13 1,952 7,758 474 

Portugal 60 961 16 14 198 3 1,299 14,792 468 

Spain 355 4,327 79 104 2,025 53 9,650 107,620 3,236 

Sweden 77 933 14 10 32 5 313 2,238 96 

EU Europe 4,129 37,935 815 3,719 11,253 667 37,237 272,228 10,653 

Cyprus 80 1,634 24 4 99 3 952 12,009 391 

Gibraltar 14 358 2 . . . 39 573 13 

Iceland 5 153 1 5 72 1 43 442 17 

Malta 21 238 4 1 5 0 457 5,148 114 

Norway 49 509 7 6 92 3 254 2,384 115 

Switzerland 90 660 16 9 74 7 652 4,242 300 

Turkey 34 781 13 7 313 8 1,037 13,068 328 

Central & Eastern Europe* 123 1,861 24 27 386 6 616 5,856 229 

Former USSR 19 461 4 7 352 8 144 2,195 119 

Former Yugoslavia 18 279 7 11 170 2 122 1,451 47 

Non EU Europe 454 6,934 100 78 1,563 39 4,315 47,368 1,672 

North Africa 58 1,339 20 13 161 4 651 7,911 234 

South Africa 64 1,804 29 10 314 7 277 6,429 250 

Rest of Africa 84 3,050 37 11 495 8 310 7,869 213 

Israel 35 470 10 11 169 6 160 2,137 82 

Other Middle East 93 3,067 29 36 1,242 28 281 6,413 171 

Hong Kong 38 1,410 24 6 35 2 162 2,936 91 

India 149 5,461 73 18 525 10 439 12,678 242 

Japan 34 1,141 13 4 71 2 129 2,607 120 

Rest of Asia 269 12,078 133 23 1,077 21 890 28,623 746 

Australia 190 7,383 172 16 3,563 60 407 18,707 542 

New Zealand 43 1,773 30 4 670 12 97 4,687 123 

Caribbean* 80 2,536 41 18 456 14 705 12,894 480 

Central & South America* 38 1,421 25 10 537 11 364 7,238 336 

Rest of the World* 4 115 1 . . . 293 3,603 296 

Other Countries 1,179 43,049 636 180 9,317 186 5,163 124,732 3,926 

Total World 6,452 102,527 1,869 4,082 24,978 1,001 50,872 509,206 19,489 

103 

: 5


104 


Holiday visits 



Business visits 

average 



Canada 15 773 51 12 885 72 11 730 64 

USA 15 771 51 14 837 61 10 1,082 104 

North America 15 771 51 13 845 63 10 1,057 101 

Austria 8 440 54 8 418 54 6 583 104 

Belgium 2 164 72 3 219 70 2 246 109 

Denmark 6 209 36 7 273 38 4 361 89 

Finland 7 314 44 8 510 66 4 340 86 

France 6 244 43 6 303 47 3 310 96 

Germany 7 249 38 5 280 55 4 377 94 

Greece 12 354 30 11 347 30 10 588 59 

Irish Republic 5 233 44 . . . 2 162 66 

Italy 9 479 51 9 482 56 6 700 116 

Luxembourg 5 259 57 7 514 73 3 202 68 

Netherlands 4 245 63 4 252 66 3 282 92 

Portugal 11 362 32 10 358 35 9 458 52 

Spain 11 329 30 11 327 31 8 614 75 

Sweden 10 309 32 8 333 41 4 358 92 

EU Europe 9 303 36 9 333 36 4 343 91 

Cyprus 12 420 35 11 429 38 6 384 64 

Gibraltar 10 314 32 5 321 63 6 615 108 

Iceland 8 442 57 6 364 59 4 490 135 

Malta 11 240 21 11 233 22 7 600 89 

Norway 10 306 30 9 489 56 8 746 97 

Switzerland 9 537 61 9 621 72 3 458 136 

Turkey 12 298 24 12 276 23 6 572 101 


Former USSR 12 609 51 10 751 73 12 1,108 95 


Non EU Europe 11 355 31 11 348 32 6 615 104 

North Africa 11 297 28 10 280 28 15 894 61 

South Africa 23 1,000 44 15 1,220 81 15 1,318 89 

Rest of Africa 21 671 32 14 705 49 17 1,226 71 

Israel 15 525 36 10 587 58 6 805 145 

Other Middle East 14 506 37 10 700 71 14 1,016 72 

Hong Kong 15 313 21 8 165 21 9 949 107 

India 25 529 21 15 420 28 20 923 46 

Japan 22 683 32 10 858 85 13 1,360 106 

Rest of Asia 28 870 31 15 754 50 21 1,349 66 

Australia 42 1,445 34 26 1,678 66 21 2,046 96 

New Zealand 49 1,619 33 33 2,638 79 16 1,416 91 

Caribbean* 16 647 40 14 631 45 20 1,814 92 

Central & South America* 17 779 45 15 712 48 14 1,746 124 

Rest of the World* 12 1,003 83 12 990 85 9 4,286 452 

Other Countries 20 716 36 13 634 49 16 1,291 80 

Total World 10 386 37 10 396 39 6 513 91 





Visiting friends or relatives Miscellaneous Total visits 




Canada 24 445 19 26 1,053 40 18 669 37 

USA 20 463 23 27 1,032 38 15 798 53 

North America 21 458 22 27 1,035 38 16 779 50 

Austria 10 239 25 27 585 21 8 450 55 

Belgium 5 119 22 1 119 172 2 183 76 

Denmark 13 281 22 14 313 23 7 300 41 

Finland 15 208 14 50 1,511 31 9 375 41 

France 8 234 30 1 163 109 4 231 52 

Germany 10 180 19 10 175 18 6 289 47 

Greece 28 153 5 50 235 5 13 350 27 

Irish Republic 8 183 24 6 153 25 6 190 33 

Italy 13 307 24 12 465 40 9 510 56 

Luxembourg 9 85 9 98 294 3 7 194 29 

Netherlands 6 145 23 5 221 48 4 243 61 

Portugal 16 266 17 14 246 17 11 360 32 

Spain 12 223 18 20 511 26 11 335 30 

Sweden 12 177 15 3 475 154 7 307 43 

EU Europe 9 197 21 3 179 59 7 286 39 

Cyprus 20 297 15 22 683 31 13 411 33 

Gibraltar 26 151 6 . . . 15 325 22 

Iceland 29 112 4 15 234 15 10 389 38 

Malta 11 174 15 4 144 39 11 249 22 

Norway 10 152 15 16 486 30 9 451 48 

Switzerland 7 174 24 8 790 96 7 460 71 

Turkey 23 376 16 44 1,166 26 13 317 25 


Former USSR 24 197 8 47 1,113 24 15 827 54 


Non EU Europe 15 221 14 20 499 25 11 388 35 

North Africa 23 352 15 12 316 26 12 360 30 

South Africa 28 446 16 31 716 23 23 904 39 

Rest of Africa 36 443 12 44 732 17 25 688 27 

Israel 13 300 22 16 544 34 13 511 38 

Other Middle East 33 314 9 34 774 23 23 610 27 

Hong Kong 37 623 17 6 397 64 18 560 31 

India 37 487 13 30 581 20 29 551 19 

Japan 33 377 11 18 385 22 20 931 46 

Rest of Asia 45 495 11 46 911 20 32 838 26 

Australia 39 901 23 220 3,730 17 46 1,332 29 

New Zealand 42 707 17 166 2,986 18 48 1,260 26 

Caribbean* 32 512 16 25 772 31 18 680 37 

Central & South America* 38 658 18 55 1,101 20 20 924 46 

Rest of the World* 26 239 9 . . . 12 1,010 82 

Other Countries 37 540 15 52 1,032 20 24 760 31 

average 

Total World 16 290 18 6 245 40 10 383 38 

105 

: 5


106 


Nil nights 1 to 3 nights 4 to 13 nights 14 to 27 nights 



Canada . . 12 5 237 131 300 207 

USA 0 0 143 61 1,468 1,016 1,674 1,396 

North America 0 0 155 66 1,706 1,147 1,974 1,603 

Austria 4 0 58 19 410 175 53 34 

Belgium 482 28 890 168 296 95 22 9 

Denmark 8 0 112 26 84 27 16 4 

Finland 5 0 47 11 39 13 8 6 

France 3,975 375 3,363 642 3,099 1,039 922 439 

Germany 113 5 874 195 899 282 113 44 

Greece . . 26 6 807 210 970 405 


Italy 22 1 387 114 1,198 589 354 221 

Luxembourg 4 0 39 6 12 4 3 1 

Netherlands 145 8 1,153 264 579 165 56 28 

Portugal 2 0 61 13 751 224 444 194 

Spain 8 0 519 90 5,173 1,426 3,708 1,517 

Sweden 8 0 154 37 119 40 19 10 

EU Europe 4,778 418 7,683 1,592 13,466 4,288 6,689 2,912 

Cyprus . . 13 2 387 118 524 258 

Gibraltar 1 0 4 2 20 6 7 4 

Iceland . . 9 2 23 12 8 2 

Malta . . 12 2 268 55 159 44 

Norway 3 0 82 17 125 44 30 40 

Switzerland 42 2 198 59 336 187 69 46 

Turkey . . 27 10 386 91 600 208 


Former USSR 0 0 30 14 64 56 26 22 

Former Yugoslavia . . 13 4 64 23 37 15 

Non EU Europe 49 2 544 156 2,000 707 1,566 675 

North Africa . . 23 8 373 104 207 81 

South Africa . . 4 1 65 50 146 127 

Rest of Africa . . 3 0 72 38 164 107 

Israel . . 10 3 100 39 39 32 

Other Middle East . . 17 4 119 65 83 45 

Hong Kong . . . . 101 47 29 19 

India . . 2 0 75 34 216 110 

Japan . . 5 2 65 54 36 35 

Rest of Asia . . 8 2 235 153 374 278 

Australia . . 2 2 30 40 166 150 

New Zealand . . 0 0 7 7 37 33 

Caribbean* 3 0 2 0 170 105 456 297 

Central & South America* . . 1 1 77 63 238 205 

Rest of the World* . . 3 0 150 106 134 177 

Other Countries 3 0 81 26 1,642 906 2,324 1,696 

Total World 4,830 421 8,463 1,839 18,814 7,049 12,552 6,885 





28 to 90 nights 3 to 6 months 6 months to 1 year All visits 



Canada 57 42 9 21 1 6 616 412 

USA 230 283 19 43 7 27 3,542 2,827 

North America 287 326 28 64 7 33 4,158 3,239 

Austria 9 11 1 2 . . 535 241 

Belgium 7 7 2 4 . . 1,699 311 

Denmark 9 11 2 1 . . 231 69 

Finland 6 2 3 8 . . 108 40 

France 143 130 15 38 0 0 11,518 2,663 

Germany 56 33 5 23 2 14 2,062 597 

Greece 43 21 13 8 1 1 1,860 651 


Italy 49 73 1 1 1 26 2,012 1,025 

Luxembourg 2 0 . . 1 0 61 12 

Netherlands 18 8 2 2 . . 1,952 474 

Portugal 34 23 5 9 2 4 1,299 468 

Spain 202 142 35 57 5 3 9,650 3,236 

Sweden 9 3 3 5 . . 313 96 

EU Europe 585 466 86 157 12 48 37,237 10,653 

Cyprus 24 10 4 3 . . 952 391 

Gibraltar 7 1 1 0 . . 39 13 

Iceland 3 0 . . . . 43 17 

Malta 15 13 2 1 . . 457 114 

Norway 13 12 2 2 . . 254 115 

Switzerland 7 6 . . . . 652 300 

Turkey 19 8 4 8 1 4 1,037 328 

Central & Eastern Europe* 23 30 3 1 . . 616 229 

Former USSR 18 25 5 2 . . 144 119 

Former Yugoslavia 7 5 . . . . 122 47 

Non EU Europe 136 110 21 17 1 4 4,315 1,672 

North Africa 46 41 0 1 . . 651 234 

South Africa 56 56 5 15 1 2 277 250 

Rest of Africa 59 42 8 9 4 17 310 213 

Israel 10 7 1 0 . . 160 82 


Hong Kong 29 20 2 4 . . 162 91 

India 126 73 17 21 2 4 439 242 

Japan 20 27 1 1 1 0 129 120 

Rest of Asia 211 174 41 49 21 89 890 746 

Australia 169 208 22 59 19 83 407 542 

New Zealand 42 52 5 11 5 20 97 123 

Caribbean* 65 64 8 13 1 0 705 480 


Rest of the World* 6 11 0 1 . . 293 296 


Total World 1,943 1,777 255 442 80 305 50,872 19,489 

107 

: 5



108 

Airports thousands 

Other 

Heathrow Gatwick Manchester Birmingham Stansted England Scotland Wales 

Canada 230 96 99 16 21 59 88 6 

USA 1,329 1,097 495 191 6 243 155 9 

North America 1,559 1,192 595 207 27 301 243 15 

Austria 103 82 67 31 3 38 9 . 

Belgium 142 29 40 42 25 85 33 3 

Denmark 87 30 26 12 19 14 2 . 

Finland 60 11 12 14 . 6 1 . 

France 539 334 199 157 96 432 47 19 

Germany 637 99 123 179 88 153 31 5 

Greece 135 616 538 175 28 232 39 90 


Italy 419 458 182 100 171 152 55 8 

Luxembourg 13 18 3 . 6 3 4 . 

Netherlands 315 101 112 106 96 318 75 22 

Portugal 163 389 305 57 41 204 75 28 

Spain 478 2,309 2,432 618 190 2,081 605 339 

Sweden 138 20 22 7 48 34 10 . 

EU Europe 3,231 4,495 4,061 1,499 812 3,751 986 515 

Cyprus 133 240 235 121 39 128 38 20 

Gibraltar 5 14 8 1 . 8 . . 

Iceland 22 . . . 3 2 17 . 

Malta 30 137 84 75 16 69 32 14 

Norway 104 8 14 2 22 46 9 . 

Switzerland 311 44 42 29 6 75 16 . 

Turkey 100 224 304 50 27 241 41 47 


Former USSR 73 45 10 3 1 4 6 . 

Former Yugoslavia 49 19 22 8 6 5 . 3 

Non EU Europe 1,115 785 777 303 136 614 187 85 

North Africa 137 239 110 62 11 53 8 26 

South Africa 181 30 7 7 . 42 9 1 

Rest of Africa 140 121 24 9 . 9 2 2 

Israel 70 55 11 . 2 22 . . 


Hong Kong 133 . 17 2 0 3 6 . 

India 256 75 60 25 1 17 5 1 

Japan 93 2 7 7 2 15 3 . 

Rest of Asia 691 28 99 6 . 50 15 1 

Australia 251 49 48 5 2 46 6 . 

New Zealand 77 . 9 1 . 11 . . 

Caribbean* 90 448 120 20 2 6 5 11 

Central & South America* 75 201 65 3 1 12 7 . 

Rest of the World* 25 13 4 . . 3 1 . 

Other Countries 2,419 1,274 612 151 22 310 74 45 

Total World 8,324 7,746 6,046 2,160 997 4,976 1,491 661 




Sea and Channel Tunnel thousands 

Dover and Other East coast Long haul Channel All air and 

Folkestone channel ports ports sea routes Tunnel sea ports 

Canada . . . 1 . 616 

USA . . . 16 1 3,542 

North America . . . 17 1 4,158 

Austria 156 . 3 . 43 535 

Belgium 615 19 45 . 621 1,699 

Denmark 6 . 33 . 2 231 

Finland 2 . 1 . . 108 

France 3,368 1,717 20 . 4,589 11,518 

Germany 322 9 119 . 298 2,062 

Greece 3 . 1 . 4 1,860 

Irish Republic . . . . . 3,937 

Italy 312 6 8 . 140 2,012 

Luxembourg 8 . . . 6 61 

Netherlands 291 1 267 . 248 1,952 

Portugal 1 34 1 . . 1,299 

Spain 169 373 . . 55 9,650 

Sweden . . 29 . 4 313 

EU Europe 5,253 2,158 526 . 6,011 37,237 

Cyprus . . . . . 952 

Gibraltar . 2 . . 1 39 

Iceland . . . . . 43 

Malta . . . . . 457 

Norway . . 48 . . 254 

Switzerland 69 6 5 . 49 652 

Turkey 1 . . . 1 1,037 

Central & Eastern Europe* 88 . 8 . 20 616 

Former USSR 1 . . . 2 144 

Former Yugoslavia 8 . 0 . 1 122 

Non EU Europe 167 7 62 . 74 4,315 

North Africa 1 2 . . . 651 

South Africa . . . . 1 277 

Rest of Africa . . . . 2 310 

Israel . . . . . 160 

Other Middle East . . . . . 281 

Hong Kong . . . . . 162 

India . . . . . 439 

Japan . . . . . 129 

Rest of Asia . . . . . 890 

Australia . . . . . 407 

New Zealand . . . . . 97 

Caribbean* . . . . 2 705 

Central & South America* . . . . . 364 

Rest of the World* . . 1 247 . 293 

Other Countries 1 2 1 247 5 5,163 

Total World 5,422 2,168 588 264 6,092 50,872 


109 

: 5


110 

5.07 Number of visits by type of vehicle used 1998 

Air Sea and Channel Tunnel 

thousands 

All Private Goods Vehicle type All sea and 

travellers Foot vehicle Coach vehicle unknown Channel Tunnel 

Canada 615 1 . . . . 1 

USA 3,525 17 . . . . 17 

North America 4,140 18 . . . . 18 

Austria 333 4 55 135 7 . 201 

Belgium 400 422 538 220 119 1 1,299 

Denmark 190 21 14 5 1 . 41 

Finland 105 . 3 . . . 3 

France 1,825 1,491 6,296 1,471 422 14 9,694 

Germany 1,314 66 348 231 101 2 748 

Greece 1,853 3 3 . 2 . 8 

Irish Republic 1,881 . . . . 2,056 2,056 

Italy 1,545 15 139 233 81 . 467 

Luxembourg 47 1 6 . 7 . 14 

Netherlands 1,145 148 334 262 59 4 807 

Portugal 1,263 . 35 . 1 . 36 

Spain 9,052 185 268 112 33 . 597 

Sweden 280 20 10 1 2 . 33 

EU Europe 21,233 2,376 8,048 2,670 834 2,076 16,004 

Cyprus 952 . . . . . . 

Gibraltar 37 . 2 . 1 . 3 

Iceland 43 . . . . . . 

Malta 457 . . . . . . 

Norway 206 28 12 7 . 2 48 

Switzerland 523 7 80 24 18 . 129 

Turkey 1,035 1 1 . . . 2 

Central & Eastern Europe* 499 11 51 48 7 . 116 

Former USSR 141 0 . 3 . . 3 

Former Yugoslavia 112 4 0 . 5 . 9 

Non EU Europe 4,004 50 146 82 31 2 311 

North Africa 647 . 3 . . . 3 

South Africa 276 1 . . . . 1 

Rest of Africa 307 2 . . . . 2 

Israel 160 . . . . . . 

Other Middle East 281 . . . . . . 

Hong Kong 162 . . . . . . 

India 439 . . . . . . 

Japan 129 . . . . . . 

Rest of Asia 890 . . . . . . 

Australia 407 . . . . . . 

New Zealand 97 . . . . . . 

Caribbean* 703 . 2 . . . 2 

Central & South America* 364 . . . . . . 

Rest of the World* 45 248 . . . . 248 

Other Countries 4,907 251 6 . . . 257 

Total World 34,283 2,695 8,200 2,751 865 2,078 16,589 


5.08 Number of visits and spending by purpose of visit and gender 1998 


Male Female 


Leisure Business Leisure Business 



Canada 275 192 47 28 284 179 9 13 

USA 1,382 1,058 598 670 1,444 994 117 105 

North America 1,658 1,250 645 697 1,728 1,173 126 118 

Austria 216 97 64 34 240 98 14 12 

Belgium 618 91 498 128 488 74 95 18 

Denmark 67 22 88 31 60 10 16 6 

Finland 21 12 46 16 30 10 10 4 

France 5,881 1,347 1,191 350 4,218 877 229 89 

Germany 597 135 795 285 523 107 147 70 

Greece 886 308 41 22 923 313 10 8 

Irish Republic (estimated) 1,565 320 774 127 1,458 281 139 21 

Italy 761 372 389 287 798 336 64 31 

Luxembourg 12 2 34 7 12 2 4 1 

Netherlands 715 160 613 180 523 112 101 22 

Portugal 601 224 44 17 636 216 18 11 

Spain 4,519 1,551 233 153 4,835 1,503 63 28 

Sweden 73 22 140 52 82 17 18 5 

EU Europe 16,533 4,673 4,951 1,689 14,825 3,966 928 325 

Cyprus 458 191 15 6 477 194 2 0 

Gibraltar 15 3 8 5 16 4 1 1 

Iceland 17 7 9 4 17 5 1 0 

Malta 208 52 12 8 233 53 4 2 

Norway 75 23 91 71 80 18 9 3 

Switzerland 214 106 211 101 187 79 39 14 

Turkey 456 142 36 21 542 164 2 1 


Former USSR 36 21 63 68 36 19 8 11 


Non EU Europe 1,735 620 624 405 1,855 606 101 42 

North Africa 248 83 56 54 340 96 7 2 

South Africa 115 104 27 25 125 98 10 24 

Rest of Africa 117 80 41 49 150 80 2 3 

Israel 60 26 19 16 81 40 1 0 


Hong Kong 75 31 41 40 43 18 3 2 

India 205 103 35 31 196 104 3 4 

Japan 31 20 60 82 33 12 4 6 

Rest of Asia 408 327 129 179 333 217 20 23 

Australia 199 254 31 64 174 218 3 7 

New Zealand 48 55 7 10 42 57 0 1 

Caribbean* 333 220 23 47 345 210 4 2 


Rest of the World* 136 136 2 7 155 153 . . 

Other Countries 2,248 1,627 588 756 2,258 1,450 70 93 

Total World 22,173 8,170 6,808 3,547 20,667 7,195 1,225 577 

111 

: 5


112 


Age 0-15 Age 16-24 Age 25-34 Age 35-44 



Canada 40 19 50 35 118 76 102 65 

USA 293 167 278 211 767 665 811 661 

North America 333 185 328 247 885 741 913 726 

Austria 52 17 37 16 102 54 84 37 

Belgium 108 11 109 14 288 59 385 74 

Denmark 12 1 19 4 63 19 52 14 

Finland 7 2 13 4 30 17 31 9 

France 1,230 210 975 229 2,232 532 2,580 631 

Germany 151 22 126 22 507 149 497 167 

Greece 144 37 297 97 389 143 360 122 


Italy 118 42 136 61 458 257 391 184 

Luxembourg 1 0 4 1 16 3 15 2 

Netherlands 77 10 232 48 528 143 437 110 

Portugal 107 30 65 19 214 82 230 74 

Spain 1,085 304 918 318 1,625 520 1,797 585 

Sweden 9 2 34 7 98 34 82 25 

EU Europe 3,100 689 2,963 839 6,550 2,012 6,942 2,035 

Cyprus 89 28 74 34 152 58 151 56 

Gibraltar 1 0 8 2 11 3 9 4 

Iceland 4 1 1 0 11 3 7 3 

Malta 34 6 29 6 53 17 79 19 

Norway 13 2 27 5 59 23 55 23 

Switzerland 41 17 32 14 149 62 146 68 

Turkey 93 19 93 29 241 83 235 70 


Former USSR 3 0 16 8 37 25 29 35 


Non EU Europe 316 78 342 116 853 326 895 353 

North Africa 42 11 45 12 166 65 118 49 

South Africa 18 5 24 14 63 64 57 55 

Rest of Africa 18 9 61 31 59 45 71 49 

Israel 8 2 23 10 31 11 25 16 


Hong Kong 9 4 23 12 28 20 38 21 

India 40 13 41 30 94 44 96 68 

Japan 6 2 13 10 39 42 30 32 

Rest of Asia 60 26 114 65 207 184 178 135 

Australia 26 29 49 73 82 127 55 71 

New Zealand 7 4 5 9 31 40 11 11 

Caribbean* 38 14 58 29 201 129 135 92 



Other Countries 324 142 532 338 1,204 945 976 762 

Total World 4,073 1,094 4,165 1,541 9,492 4,025 9,726 3,876 





Age 45-54 Age 55-64 Age 65 and over All visits 



Canada 128 79 94 66 84 71 616 412 

USA 781 621 382 321 229 181 3,542 2,827 

North America 909 700 476 388 313 252 4,158 3,239 

Austria 118 52 80 38 61 26 535 241 

Belgium 449 95 216 36 144 21 1,699 311 

Denmark 52 15 21 8 12 9 231 69 

Finland 19 5 7 2 1 1 108 40 

France 2,446 586 1,322 313 734 161 11,518 2,663 

Germany 455 139 209 56 117 43 2,062 597 

Greece 390 145 204 77 77 29 1,860 651 


Italy 435 222 284 160 190 100 2,012 1,025 

Luxembourg 17 4 8 2 1 0 61 12 

Netherlands 411 102 155 34 112 28 1,952 474 

Portugal 301 111 233 96 149 57 1,299 468 

Spain 1,966 704 1,342 483 917 321 9,650 3,236 

Sweden 64 22 19 4 6 2 313 96 

EU Europe 7,122 2,202 4,101 1,307 2,523 798 37,237 10,653 

Cyprus 217 93 164 77 105 46 952 391 

Gibraltar 5 1 2 2 3 1 39 13 

Iceland 9 4 6 3 4 3 43 17 

Malta 103 23 90 23 68 19 457 114 

Norway 62 50 21 7 17 6 254 115 

Switzerland 158 80 68 30 59 29 652 300 

Turkey 212 71 117 42 45 14 1,037 328 


Former USSR 36 28 11 13 12 10 144 119 


Non EU Europe 973 421 555 226 382 151 4,315 1,672 

North Africa 156 55 67 24 54 18 651 234 

South Africa 48 42 36 34 32 36 277 250 

Rest of Africa 64 51 26 25 10 4 310 213 

Israel 32 17 21 15 20 11 160 82 


Hong Kong 31 18 15 13 18 2 162 91 

India 93 46 48 25 27 16 439 242 

Japan 29 23 10 10 2 2 129 120 

Rest of Asia 186 197 105 100 40 38 890 746 

Australia 75 88 68 80 52 74 407 542 

New Zealand 19 24 14 17 11 16 97 123 

Caribbean* 146 106 99 84 28 25 705 480 



Other Countries 1,090 850 642 538 395 350 5,163 3,926 

Total World 10,094 4,173 5,773 2,459 3,613 1,551 50,872 19,489 

113 

: 5


114 



Expenditure trailer - 1997 

Chapter 6 

The 1997 expenditure trailer 

115 

: 6

6 : Expenditure trailer - 1997 

6.01 Spending by overseas residents 

in the UK 1997 

6.02 

116 

Clothes 

13% 

Other 

24% 

Travel within the UK 

9% 


by purpose of visit 1997 

£ 

Accommodation 

33% 

Eating out / alcohol 

21% 

Proportion of spending per visit 


per cent 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

800 

600 

400 

200 

0 


Other 

Clothes 

Travel within UK 


Accommodation 


Chapter 6 

The 1997 Expenditure Trailer 

In 1997 the Office for National Statistics conducted an expenditure 

trailer seeking additional information on the spending of overseas 

residents in the UK. 

The breakdown of spending obtained is used to improve estimates of 

consumers’ expenditure within the UK national accounts and as a 

source in compiling input-output tables for the UK economy. The 

tourism policy customers of the IPS, the Department for Culture, Media 

and Sport (DCMS) and the British Tourist Authority (BTA) also use 

the information. 

The questions on the trailer seek information on the main categories 

of goods and services purchased by overseas residents whilst in the 

UK, and the amount of money spent on each. Table 6.01 shows a 

breakdown of spending in 1997 by purpose of visit. Since the trailer 

is only run periodically, percentages have been shown to represent 

the proportion of expenditure that is spent on a particular set of goods 

and services. 

Figure 6.01 shows the breakdown of spending by major categories 

in 1997. It can be seen that a third of all overseas spending was on 

accommodation, with a fifth spent on eating and drinking. The next 

largest category of spending was on shopping for clothing, which 

accounted for one eighth of spending. 

The proportion of spending on each major category of expenditure 

varies by purpose of visit (figure 6.02). Visitors to friends and relatives 

spent proportionately far less on accommodation than other visitors, 

whilst those on business visits spent the most. Visitors for other 

miscellaneous purposes spent more proportionately on other items, 

mainly due to the inclusion in this category of visits by students and 

for medical treatment. The costs of both student fees and medical 

treatment are included in the other spending category. 

However, looking at this data in terms of spending per visit, that is by 

applying these proportions to expenditure levels in 1997, it can be 

seen that business visitors spend four times as much per visit on 

accommodation than those visiting friends or relatives (figure 6.03). 

Looking at expenditure per day, using a similar method, it can be 

seen that business visitors spend more per day than leisure visitors 

for each category of expenditure (figure 6.04). 


Differences in spending patterns are also noted when comparing the 

trailer results for the different areas of the world people have travelled 

from. Table 6.02 shows a breakdown of the spending on visits to the 

UK by residents from North America, EU Europe and other areas. 

North American visitors tend to spend proportionately more on their 

accommodation, whilst visitors from the other areas tend to spend 

more on clothes whilst in the UK (figure 6.05). 

Earlier trailers had been run in 1979, 1986, and 1992. Table 6.03 

shows the summary results of the 1997 expenditure trailer alongside 

the results from the earlier trailers. The proportion of money visitors 

spend on the different expenditure categories seems to have been 

relatively stable over the past 20 years (figure 6.06). However, with 

total spending increasing more than four times between 1979 and 

1997, more money was spent by overseas visitors on accommodation 

in 1997 than the total amount of overseas visitor spending in 1979. 

Technical Note 

The expenditure trailer is a set of additional questions that are asked 

of a sub-sample of 1 in 10 overseas residents departing from the UK. 

No interviews were conducted with visitors from the Irish Republic or 

the Channel Islands. With the smaller sample used for the expenditure 

trailer, the results have a larger sampling error associated with them 

than the standard IPS results printed elsewhere in this book. The 

next expenditure trailer is likely to be conducted in either 2002 

or 2003. 





£ 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

Acc Eating Travel Clothes Other 

6.05 Average spending per visit by main 

area of residence 1997 

£ 

1000 

800 

600 

400 

200 

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

0 

Leisure Business 

North America EU Europe Other areas 

Other 

Clothes 

Travel within UK 


Accommodation 

6.06 Proportion of spending by year 

per cent 

1979 1986 1992 1997 

117 

: 6


118 

6.01 Percentage of spending by purpose of visit and spending category 1997 

Visiting friends 

Holiday Business or relatives Miscellaneous Total 

£4,213m £3,214m £1,765m £2,114m £11,306m 

(=100%) (=100%) (=100%) (=100%) (=100%) 

Accommodation 34 46 17 26 33.3 

Meals out 20 17 22 12 18.1 

Alcohol (included with meal) 2 3 4 1 2.5 

Alcohol (not with meal) 3 2 4 2 2.5 

Taxi or car hire 5 7 6 3 5.2 

Public transport or fuel 5 3 5 3 4.0 

Clothing/fabrics 14 7 16 16 12.8 

Food/groceries 4 1 5 3 3.1 

Souvenirs/gifts/household goods 8 6 10 12 8.6 

Books/newspapers/maps 1 1 2 1 1.5 

Entertainment/admission fees 5 1 3 2 2.9 

Medical 0 0 0 4 0.8 

Hair/beauty care 0 0 1 0 0.2 

Phone/postage 1 2 1 2 1.3 

Other services 0 3 4 0 1.7 

Study fees 0 2 0 13 3.0 

Other items 0 0 4 1 1.0 




6.02 Percentage of spending by main area of residence and spending category 1997 

North EU Other Total 

America Europe countries world 

£2,515m £4,042m £4,749m £11,306m 

(=100%) (=100%) (=100%) (=100%) 

Accommodation 38 34 30 33.3 

Meals out 20 18 17 18.1 

Alcohol (included with meal) 3 2 2 2.5 

Alcohol (not with meal) 2 3 3 2.5 

Taxi or car hire 7 3 6 5.2 

Public transport or fuel 4 5 3 4.0 

Clothing/fabrics 6 11 18 12.8 

Food/groceries 3 4 3 3.1 

Souvenirs/gifts/household goods 7 10 9 8.6 

Books/newspapers/maps 1 2 1 1.5 

Entertainment/admission fees 4 3 2 2.9 

Medical 0 0 2 0.8 

Hair/beauty care 0 0 0 0.2 

Phone/postage 1 1 2 1.3 

Other services 1 2 2 1.7 

Study fees 3 4 2 3.0 

Other items 1 1 1 1.0 

6.03 Percentage of overseas residents’ spending by year and spending category 

1979 1986 1992 1997 

£2,797m £5,553m £7,891m £12,244m 

(=100%) (=100%) (=100%) (=100%) 

Accommodation 27.5 32.3 36.1 33.3 

Eating out / alcohol 14.7 22.5 21.9 20.6 

Travel within UK 11.5 8.6 7.8 9.2 

Clothes 19.9 14.1 12.6 12.8 

Other shopping 15.9 13.0 11.9 13.2 

Other expenditure 10.5 9.5 9.5 10.9 

119 

: 6


120 



Appendices 

Appendix A Information available from the International Passenger Survey 

Appendix B Methodology 

Appendix C Definitions 

Appendix D Response rates of the survey 

Appendix E Accuracy of IPS estimates 

Appendix F Access to IPS data 

121

Appendix A 

122 

Appendix A 

Information available from the International Passenger Survey 

For most types of analysis of IPS data, and for all analyses within this report, the information is 

presented separately for two distinct groups of travellers: 

a) Overseas residents visiting the UK; 

b) UK residents travelling abroad. 

For each of these groups of traveller, the results are shown according to one or more of the 

following observations: 

a) the number of visits made; 

b) their spending in £ sterling; 

c) their length of stay in nights. 

For some analyses, additional observations are made, these being; 

a) the average length of visit measured in nights; 

b) the average spending per visit in £ sterling; 

c) the average spending per day in £ sterling. 

Within Travel Trends, the IPS data are further analysed by a variety of other characteristics 

based on variables from the IPS database, for example: 

a) mode of travel (air, sea or tunnel); 

b) country of visit (for UK residents); 

c) country of residence (for overseas residents); 

d) main purpose of the visit; 

e) year and quarter of travel; 

f) age group; 

g) gender; 

h) duration of stay; 

i) type of vehicle used when travelling by sea or channel tunnel; 

j) the regions of the UK stayed in by overseas residents; 

k) the UK airport or seaport used or if by Channel Tunnel 

All the information published in this report relates to the group of travellers normally termed 

‘visitors’. A visitor is described as someone on a trip abroad which lasts less than a year. For the 

purposes of this publication, visitors include day visitors, those on holiday, business travellers, 

people visiting friends or relatives, on study trips or travelling to receive medical attention. Those 

not included are migrants and crews of ships, trains and aircraft who are travelling as part of 

their work or those on sea trips who do not actually disembark at a foreign port. A fuller definition 

of a visitor can be found in appendix C. 

Getting further information from the IPS 

The full IPS database contains over a hundred variables and therefore the opportunity exists for 

more detailed analyses than can be replicated here. However, the structure of the IPS database 

is complex making it rather difficult to analyse. 


To enable examination of the IPS data to be made more easily, Travelpac (a CD-ROM containing 

a simplified version of the IPS database using twelve of the most widely used variables) is now 

available. The information is supplied in several common PC formats and is available for each 

year from 1994 to 1998. Details of how to obtain a copy are given in appendix F. 

Further analyses of IPS data can be commissioned from any of three companies who act as 

marketing agents for the IPS. The marketing agents are able to undertake the more specific and 

specialised forms of analysis not covered in this publication and which would not be possible 

from the Travelpac CD-ROM. Appendix F gives details of how to contact the marketing agents. 

The key variables 

Visits are described as the number of journeys made in one direction only. Those who came to 

the UK or went abroad on more than one occasion are counted on each visit they made. 

Spending in Travel Trends is normally shown as £ sterling at ‘current prices’, i.e. the value of 

money at the time the visit was made. No account is, therefore, taken of inflation. The information 

on spending is in some cases also shown at 1995 ‘constant prices’. This gives an indication of 

spending over time but with the effects of inflation removed. 

Using regional tables 

The IPS collects information regarding the towns stayed in by overseas residents when they visit 

the UK. However, due to the very large number of towns in the UK it would not be meaningful to 

replicate an analysis of visits by the full range of towns possible. In this publication, visits information 

for overseas residents is therefore shown at “County” or “Unitary Authority”, and main UK region 

levels. 

Care must be taken when using the regional information, as the numbers of visits to separate UK 

areas cannot simply be added together to form larger areas. This is because it is possible for a 

person to visit more than one area of the UK during a single visit. 

For example, a person visiting London, Windsor and Aberdeen in a single visit to the UK would 

appear as one visit to London, one to Surrey and one to Grampian. However, the same visitor 

would be recorded as a single visit in the England total and a visit in the Scotland total, and as 

just one visit in the UK total. 

Although visits cannot be summed across UK regions, the spending and nights information can. 

As a result, the numbers of visits to smaller regions do not sum to the figures given for larger 

regions in the regional tables in this publication. 

Main analysis variables 

The full IPS dataset contains a total of over 110 variables, some of which are derived. Some 

variables are indicators to help identify the quality of data or to show where data have been 

imputed, and to what degree. Figure A.1 shows the most widely used variables. 


Appendix A 

123

Appendix A 

124 

A.1 

The main analysis variables 

from the full 1997 IPS database 

Year 1 : of the interview 

Quarter 1 : " " 

Month : " " 

Date : " " 

Flow 1 Eight flows with four for each of air and sea: 

- arrivals by UK residents; 

- departures by UK residents; 

- arrivals by overseas residents; 

- departures by overseas residents. 

Weight 1 : The number of trips the record represents 

(i.e. the sum of the weights gives total traffic). 

Nationality : Recorded for all respondents. 

Country visited 1 : The main country of visit (or country stayed in the longest) by UK residents abroad. 

Residence 1 : The main country of residence of visitors to the UK. 

States of residence : States within countries for overseas residents. 

Limited to four countries each year. In 1998 Spain, Sweden Canada & Japan. 

Purpose of visit 1 : The main purpose of the visit. All respondents 

Stay 1 : Length of stay in nights (overseas departures & UK arrivals) 

Expenditure 1 : Expenditure (excluding fares) in £sterling (overseas departures & UK arrivals) 

UK port : Airport, sea route or tunnel route at which interview was recorded. 

Second UK port : Any UK airport from which a person has just arrived from, or is flying to. 

First port : The overseas port travelling directly to or from. 

Second Port : The final (or starting) overseas air or sea port 

Flight : Origin (or final destination) of flight being taken (air travellers only) 

Mileage travelled : Computed distance travelled in miles for first, second and direct legs from/to UK port 

First Carrier : Air or shipping line for first leg of journey 

Second Carrier : Air or shipping line for second leg of journey 

Class of travel : On all air flows 

Type of flight : On all air flows - scheduled or charter 

Fares : In £sterling 

Vehicle type : Type of vehicle taken on visit (sea and tunnel passengers only) 

Number in vehicle : The number of people travelling in the vehicle 

Sea and tunnel passengers only 

Age 1 : Age group 

Gender 1 : Male or female 

Towns 1-5 : Up to 5 towns stayed in overnight in the UK (overseas residents only) 

Stay 1-5 : Number of nights spent in towns 1-5 

Spend 1-5 : Expenditure whilst in towns 1-5 

(not collected by IPS but imputed based on length of stay) 

Package : Package tour or independent 

Money spent : by UK residents having visited the EU 

- on spirits 

- on beer 

- on wine 

- other alcohol 

- on tobacco 

1 data item included in Travelpac Compact Data Set. 


Appendix B 

Methodology 

Background 

The International Passenger Survey (IPS) is a large multi-purpose survey which collects 

information from passengers as they enter or leave the United Kingdom. It is carried out by the 

Office for National Statistics for a range of public and private sector organisations. In particular, 

the survey provides figures used for the travel account of the balance of payments, international 

migration statistics, and for informing decisions on tourism policy. The survey’s use, however, is 

also widespread across and outside of Government in providing detailed information on the 

numbers and types of people travelling to and from the UK. Results are published regularly on a 

monthly, quarterly and annual basis. More detailed analyses are possible by purchasing the 

Travelpac Compact Dataset or through marketing agents appointed by ONS. 

Overview of the survey design 

The IPS is based on face to face interviews with a sample of passengers travelling via the 

principal airports, sea routes and the Channel Tunnel. The number of interviews in 1998 was 

263,000 which represented about 0.2 per cent of all travellers. This sample size is large and 

allows reliable estimates to be produced for various groups of passengers despite the low 

proportion of travellers interviewed. 

The IPS sample is stratified to ensure it is representative by mode of travel (air, sea or tunnel), 

port or route, and time of day. Interviews are conducted throughout the year. The frequency of 

sampling within each stratum is varied according to the variability of tourist expenditure, the 

volume of migrants and the cost of interviewing. For example, where the expenditure quoted on 

a particular route varies greatly across respondents, a higher sampling frequency is used to 

enable a more satisfactory estimate to be produced. (For further details on the sample design, 

see the Sampling section below.) 

Some questions on the survey are asked of all of the passengers interviewed, whilst others are 

restricted to certain specific sub-groups. Information on the spending and length of stay of UK 

residents abroad and overseas residents in the UK is only collected on the return leg of a visit. 

This is because actual spending and length of stay are required, and these may differ from the 

respondents’ intentions when they start their visit. In 1998, 67,000 interviews were carried out 

with overseas residents departing from the UK and 55,000 with UK residents arriving back from 

abroad. 

The details collected on the survey are used by ONS, along with other sources of information, to 

produce overall national estimates of the number and expenditure of different types of travellers. 

A complex weighting procedure is used to do this which takes into account various factors in 

order to improve the estimates. (For further details of the weighting procedure, see Producing 

national estimates below.) 

Sampling 

The sampling scheme used for the IPS is a multi-stage one which is carried out separately for 

air, sea and tunnel travel. The underlying principle for each mode of travel is broadly similar: in 

the absence of a sampling frame of travellers, time shifts or sea crossings are selected at the 


Appendix B 

125

Appendix B 

126 

first stage, and travellers are then systematically chosen at fixed intervals from a random start 

within these shifts or crossings at the second stage. The details of the sampling scheme for each 

individual mode of travel are as follows: 

- Air routes 

For air routes, shifts are selected for the first stage at the nine ‘main’ air sites (i.e. the four 

terminals at Heathrow airport, the two terminals at Gatwick, and the three terminals at Manchester 

International Airport) in such a way that the number of shifts are balanced between mornings/ 

afternoons and days of the week within any quarter. At the second stage, passengers are counted 

as they cross a predetermined line and every n th one is interviewed. The sampling interval, n, 

differs between sites but is never more than 50. Departing passengers are sampled at a higher 

rate than arriving ones because the expenditure information for overseas residents visiting the 

UK is more variable than that for UK residents returning from visits abroad. 

A small number of shifts every quarter are also conducted at other, smaller international airports 

(termed residual airports), but the coverage is insufficient to provide accurate estimates for each 

individual airport. Those airports with less than about 50,000 passenger movements per quarter 

are usually excluded from the survey altogether on the grounds of cost effectiveness, but traffic 

at these sites is taken into account when producing national figures. 

- Sea routes 

Sea routes carrying 50,000 passengers a year or more are included in the IPS sample. At some 

seaports, passengers are sampled and interviewed on the quayside as they embark or disembark, 

whilst at others, IPS interviewers travel on the boat itself with interviewing being carried out on 

board. The choice between interviewing on the quayside or on crossings is made on practical 

grounds such as cost, safety and permission. 

Where interviewing is conducted on the quayside, the sample is designed to select shifts which 

are balanced across different days of the week and times of day within a quarter, with each 

individual shift covering several sailings. Where interviews are conducted on crossings, a 

predetermined number of return crossings are selected for each route, spread across time of 

day and day of week each quarter. Similarly to air sampling, sea passengers are selected at 

fixed sampling intervals from a random start within each shift or crossing. 

The IPS also samples long haul ships capable of carrying more than 200 passengers at the port 

of Southampton; one outward and one inward sailing are randomly selected per quarter. 

- Tunnel routes 

The method used for the tunnel routes is different for Eurostar passenger trains and for Eurotunnel 

vehicle shuttles. 

Passenger trains are treated in a similar way to air travel, with time shifts being selected and then 

a sampling interval being used within the time shift. Passengers are interviewed crossing a 

predetermined line at Waterloo and Ashford International stations on arrival or departure. 


In contrast, for vehicle shuttles, crossings are randomly selected and interviewing takes place 

on board the shuttles themselves. Because of time constraints, only a certain number of interviews 

can be carried out on any vehicle shuttle crossing and the sampling interval used is therefore 

dependent on traffic volumes. 

Producing national estimates 

Once the information has been collected from respondents, ONS produces national estimates 

based on the sample results which are published on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. 

These estimates take account of a variety of factors. The method of producing national estimates 

varies depending on the mode of travel and type of port: 

- Main airports 

Each person interviewed at one of the main airports is assigned a value which indicates the 

number of people they represent in the traffic flow. This initial weight is the inverse of the sampling 

interval used for the shift adjusted to take account of time slots which were not selected in the 

sample design. For example, if the sampling interval is 1 in 25, and one 8 hour period in 6 is 

sampled, then the initial weight will be 25x6=150. 

The initial weight for each respondent is then built upon to take account of a range of other 

factors. The series of procedures is as follows: 

(a) Firstly, the initial weight is adjusted to take account of: 

- non-contacts during the interviewing time (during peak periods an interviewer may not 

finish an interview before their next assigned contact has crossed the counting line); 

- people refusing to be interviewed. 

(b) Some further adjustment of the weights within country of residence and nationality is then 

made to allow for interviews in which only minimum information is obtained from the 

respondents. These “minimum” interviews are then discounted. This procedure makes the 

assumption that “minimum” respondents are similar to those of a similar residency and 

nationality status who provide fuller information. 

(c) Adjustments are then made for passengers arriving or departing outside the eligible times 

for sampling, usually over the night-time period between 11 pm and 7.00 am (these 

adjustments are based upon information from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)). 

(d) The resulting weights are next summed across respondents to give estimated total passenger 

flows from the IPS sample data. These total flows are then scaled to bring them into line with 

actual numbers of international passengers passing through the main airports which are 

provided to ONS by the CAA. The passenger flow figures for Heathrow and Gatwick are 

adjusted before scaling to exclude “airside interliners” (i.e. passengers in transit to another 

flight) who do not pass through passport control and so technically do not enter the country. 


Appendix B 

127

Appendix B 

128 

(e) The weights are finally adjusted to allow for any imbalance in the sample. This involves 

comparing total arrivals and departures for each major country and port group over a period 

of a rolling year and, if the two totals are further apart than can be explained by statistical 

error, the weights of the relevant contacts are adjusted to reflect this. 

This series of procedures leads to a final weight being assigned to each respondent. These final 

weights are then applied to the individual responses to produce the national estimates. 

- Residual air, seaports and the Channel Tunnel 

For all other types of port, sample figures are directly scaled to known international passenger 

flows. For the residual airports these flows are derived from statistics provided by CAA, whilst for 

the seaports, information is provided by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the 

Regions. Data on Channel Tunnel flows are supplied by both Eurotunnel (vehicle shuttles) and 

Eurostar (passenger trains). In the case of the vehicle shuttles, only vehicle flows are available; 

these are converted to passenger flows using information collected from a separate survey of 

vehicle occupancies conducted on behalf of ONS at the Eurotunnel terminals in the UK and 

France. 

For residual airports, international passenger movement figures are assigned to groups of airports, 

subdivided between arrivals and departures. For long and short haul sea ports, the passenger 

movement figures are similarly assigned to groups of routes, subdivided between arrivals and 

departures. The sample for these grouped routes is then scaled to the passenger flows by dividing 

the number of contacts into the actual number of passengers. 

In the calculation of these scaling weights, no allowance is made for non-response. However, by 

grouping airports or sea routes, allowances are made for unsampled ports and routes. Finally, 

the sample within each group is re-weighted for “minimum” interviews and sample imbalance (in 

the same way as for the main airports, see above) to arrive at a final weight for each respondent. 

Additional sources of data 

The method above explains how the national estimates are produced using the sample data 

from the IPS and control totals of passenger flows. Unfortunately, the IPS does not cover all 

possible passenger flows, so additional figures have to be obtained from other sources and 

added to the totals derived from the IPS. These additions are: 

- travel to and from the Irish Republic (routes to and from the Irish Republic are not covered 

on the IPS) including American resident visitors leaving the UK via the Irish Republic (provided 

by the Central Statistics Office of the Irish Republic); 

- UK residents on cruises departing from or arriving to UK shores (from the Department of the 

Environment, Transport and the Regions); 

- Channel Islands expenditure and receipts from tourism (from the Economic Advisor’s office 

in Jersey); 


- rail fares purchased by overseas visitors to the UK and UK visitors abroad before the start of 

their visit (from British Rail International and Eurostar). 

Imputation 

Inevitably, some respondents only partially respond and do not give details of their expenditure, 

fares or length of stay. For these respondents, ONS imputes the missing information based on 

the spending, fares and stay of similar types of contacts who do give the details. Spending for 

overseas residents visiting UK towns is also imputed. 

Seasonal adjustment 

The number of travellers and their spending both have a clear seasonal pattern, with more visits 

and spending in the summer than in the winter. Statistical techniques are used by ONS with the 

package ‘X11ARIMA’ to produce seasonally adjusted figures. These figures show visits and 

spending with an estimate for the seasonal component removed. They allow more meaningful 

comparisons to be made between months and quarters of the year and help to identify underlying 

trends. More details on seasonal adjustment procedures can be obtained from the IPS Branch of 

ONS. 

Constant prices 

Usually, spending by overseas residents in the UK and UK residents abroad grows each year as 

the price of goods and services rise. Constant price figures are calculated by ONS to show real 

spending across years with the effects of price inflation removed. 

For overseas residents in the UK, an index is created by splitting spending into its component 

parts (accommodation, meals etc.) using past IPS data and uprating these components by their 

related retail price indices. The resulting index is then used to rebase the overseas figures back 

to 1995 prices. 

For UK residents abroad, spending is split by country of visit. Consumer price indices for particular 

countries are used with currency conversion rates to produce an index of price rises. The index 

is then used to rebase UK residents’ spending to 1995 prices. 


Appendix B 

129

Appendix C 

130 

Appendix C 

Definitions 

1. The figures relate to the number of visits, not the number of visitors. Those entering or 

leaving the United Kingdom (UK) more than once in the same period are counted on each 

visit. The count of visits relates to UK residents returning to this country and to overseas 

residents leaving it. 

2. Day-trips (i.e. visits that do not involve an overnight stay) abroad by UK residents as well as 

day trips to the UK by overseas residents are included in the figures for visits and spending. 

It should be noted that where figures for day visits are shown separately, they do not include 

day visits to and from the Irish Republic, although these are included in total visits. Note 14 

refers to overseas residents in transit through the UK. 

3. An overseas visitor is a person who, being permanently resident in a country outside the 

UK, visits the UK for a period of less than 12 months. UK citizens resident overseas for 12 

months or more coming home on leave are included in this category. Visits abroad are 

visits for a period of less than 12 months by people permanently resident in the UK (who may 

be of foreign nationality). 

4. When a resident of the UK has visited more than one country, spending and stay for the 

entire visit are allocated to the country stayed in for the longest time. 

5. Visits for miscellaneous purposes include those for study, to attend sporting events, for 

shopping, health, religious or other purposes, together with visits for more than one purpose 

when none predominates (e.g. visits both on business and on holiday). Overseas visitors 

staying overnight in the UK en route to other destinations are also included in the miscellaneous 

purposes category. 

6. Estimates relating to tourist flows across the land boundary between the Irish Republic and 

Northern Ireland are, for convenience, included in the figures for sea. Where not shown 

separately, flows through the Channel Tunnel are also included under the figures for sea. 

The information relating to visitors from the Irish Republic is not collected on the IPS, and 

so for some tables the detail is not available. Also excluded from the regional analysis 

tables (except the ‘Total’ section) are all visits that did not include an overnight stay in the 

UK. Visits by overseas residents to Northern Ireland, although included in the ‘total’ column, 

are not separately analysed. More than one region can be visited by an individual whilst in 

the UK so the total of the visits to all the regions will be greater than the total number of visits 

to the UK as a whole. 

7. Adjustments are made to the reported cost of an inclusive tour so that only the amount 

earned by the country of visit (e.g. accommodation costs, car hire, etc.) is included. This 

estimate is then added to an individual’s spending to give the total spending in the country of 

visit (see also note 9). Information on inclusive tours to and from the Irish Republic is not 

separately available and is therefore excluded from the inclusive tour totals for the European 

Union and Total World. 


8. Length of stay for UK residents covers the time spent, including the journey, outside the 

UK, whilst for overseas residents it refers to the time spent within the UK. 

9. Spending figures cover the same categories of traveller as the number of visits figures 

except that the figures for overseas residents additionally include the spending of same day 

transit passengers. 

Spending also includes foreign exchange earnings and expenditure due to travel relating to 

the Channel Islands. Spending excludes payments for air and sea travel to and from the UK. 

For any traveller on an inclusive tour, an estimate of the return fare is deducted from the total 

tour price. 

10. Spending does not include the personal export of cars that have been purchased in the UK 

by overseas residents. Similarly spending excludes the personal import of cars by UK 

residents. 

11. An estimate for purchases by overseas visitors at airport duty-free shops is included in the 

figures for spending. Such purchases on British carriers are excluded. 

Exclusions 

The following groups are excluded from the tables in this publication. 

12. Trippers who cross the Channel or North Sea but do not alight from the boat. 

13. Migrants and persons travelling to take up prearranged employment, together with military or 

diplomatic personnel, merchant seamen and airline personnel on duty. 

14. Overseas residents passing through the UK en route to other destinations, but who do not 

stay overnight (often known as transit passengers). However any spending whilst in the UK 

is included in the spending figures. 

Geographical areas 

The geographical areas used in this report are unchanged from the previous publication. 

15. North America: Canada (including Greenland and St. Pierre et Miquelon) and the USA 

(including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands). 

16. EU Europe: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France (including Monaco), Finland, Germany, 

Greece, Irish Republic, Italy (including San Marino and Vatican City), Luxembourg, 

Netherlands, Portugal (including Azores and Madeira), Spain (including Canary Islands, 

Spanish North Africa, Balearic Islands and Andorra) and Sweden. 

17. Non EU Europe: Central & Eastern Europe, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Iceland, Malta, 

Norway, Switzerland (including Liechtenstein), Turkey, the former USSR and the states of 

former Yugoslavia. 


Appendix C 

131

Appendix C 

132 

18. Central & Eastern Europe: Albania, Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland 

and Romania. 

19. North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia. 

20. Other Middle East: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, 

Syria, United Arab Emirates and the Yemen. 

21. Central and South America: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, British Antarctica, Brazil, Chile, 

Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Guatemala, 

Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama (including Canal Zone), Paraguay, Peru, 

Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela. 

22. Caribbean: Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, 

Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, 

St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, 

Turks and the Caicos Islands. 

Although the information in this publication is by the country groups described above, almost 

200 different countries of residence or visit can be identified by the IPS. 


Appendix D 

Response rates of the survey 

Sample surveys such as the IPS depend on achieving high levels of response from the public, 

because non-respondents often have different characteristics of travel and expenditure patterns 

compared with those who do respond. This can lead to biases being introduced into the results. 

The response rates for the main airports, residual airports, sea routes and the Channel Tunnel 

are shown in table D1 below. A minimum response is one where the contact’s nationality and 

country of residence are known but where the reason for visit, date visit began or country visited 

are not obtained. The overall response rate fell in 1998, with full or partial responses being 

obtained for 81 per cent of the sample, compared to 83 per cent in 1997. A fall in response rate 

occurred at all air, sea and tunnel ports, but the overall response rates for sea and tunnel routes 

remained consistently higher than those at the main and residual airports. 

D.1 

IPS response rates 1998 and 1997 

by type of response and UK port 

Complete or 

partial response 

(%) 


Minimum response 

(%) 

Total response 

(%) 

1998 1997 1998 1997 1998 1997 

Heathrow terminal 1 75 78 10 10 85 88 




Heathrow transits 82 85 7 6 90 91 

Gatwick North 77 78 9 8 86 85 

Gatwick South 79 81 7 7 87 88 

Manchester terminal 1 83 84 6 5 88 89 

Manchester terminal 2 87 88 4 3 91 91 

Residual air 83 84 6 4 89 89 

Sea 85 88 2 2 87 89 

Channel Tunnel 90 91 5 4 95 95 

Total 81 83 7 7 89 90 

Appendix D 

133

Appendix E 

134 

Appendix E 

Accuracy of IPS estimates 

The estimates of number of visits, nights and expenditure from the IPS are subject to sampling 

errors. Sampling errors result because every traveller to or from the UK is not interviewed on the 

survey. Sampling errors are determined both by the sample design and by the sample size - 

generally speaking, the larger the sample supporting a particular estimate, the (proportionately) 

smaller is its sampling error. 

Table E.1 shows the sampling errors for the main 1998 estimates for both overseas residents 

visiting the UK and UK residents going abroad (all estimates quoted in the table exclude travel 

to, from and via the Irish Republic since these routes are not covered by the IPS). ‘Complex’ 

sampling errors, which fully account for the clustered sample design of the survey, are shown in 

the table. Both standard errors and the 95% confidence intervals are quoted, the latter representing 

the interval into which there are 19 chances out of 20 that the true figure (had all travellers been 

surveyed) would fall. The 95% confidence intervals are given both in absolute and relative 

(percentage) terms - the estimate plus or minus the value or percentage gives the appropriate 

interval for each estimate. 

Further details on the confidence intervals of data from the IPS and their interpretation can be 

obtained from the IPS Branch of ONS. 

E.1 IPS sampling errors for 1998 estimates 

Absolute Relative 

95% 95% 

Standard confidence confidence 

Estimate error interval interval 

Overseas visitors to the UK 

Number of visits (1000s) 23,435 355 696 3.0% 

Number of visitor-nights (1000s) 213,534 4,728 9,267 4.3% 

Total earnings (£ million) 11,723 204 400 3.4% 

UK residents going abroad 

Number of visits (1000s) 46,898 421 825 1.8% 

Number of visitor-nights (1000s) 486,261 5,582 10,941 2.3% 

Total expenditure (£ million) 18,672 198 388 2.1% 


Appendix F 

Access to IPS data 

Travel Trends is subject to Crown Copyright and as such proposals for reproduction of tables or 

contents should be addressed to: 

The Copyright Section, 

Office for National Statistics 

B1/04 1 Drummond Gate 

London SW1V 2QQ 

Telephone: 0207 533-5674 

Fax: 0207 533-5689 

IPS monthly estimates 

Are published in the ‘ONS First Release’ series ‘Overseas Travel and Tourism’ available from: 

Office for National Statistics, 

1 Drummond Gate 

London SW1V 2QQ. 

Telephone: 0207 533-5725 

IPS quarterly results 

These are reproduced in the Stationery Office publication ‘Society MQ6’ titled ‘Overseas Travel 

and Tourism’. They are available through The Stationery Office Publications Centre. 

Telephone: 0207 873-9090. 

Other analyses: 

General enquiries about the IPS should be directed to: 

Office for National Statistics, 

International Passenger Survey, 

B2/11 Drummond Gate 

London SW1V 2QQ. 

Telephone 0207 533-5765 

Fax 0207 533 6154 

E-mail ips@ons.gov.uk 

IPS Data sets 

A compact version of the IPS database is currently available on CD-ROM priced £150 + VAT for 

the datasets from 1994 to 1998. Individual contact records from the full IPS database may be 

purchased and can be supplied on computer diskette or CD-ROM. 

IPS data on the web 

Some key data from the IPS are available from StatBase, the Government’s on-line statistical 

service. In order to access StatBase you first need to link up with the Government Statistical 

Service (GSS) website (http://www.statistics.gov.uk). Once you are connected to the GSS 

website, click on the button marked StatBase. The StatBase ‘family’ of services consists of three 

main components: 


Appendix F 

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Appendix F 

136 

StatSearch - a free service that contains a wealth of textual information that describes each of 

the GSS’s information resources. 

StatStore - another free service that contains a selection of the data compiled by the GSS 

including the data published in Social Trends and Regional Trends. 

TimeZone - a chargeable service providing access to a large portfolio of GSS time-series 

data 

Please click on the button marked StatStore if you want to access the data contents of StatBase, 

including the IPS data. 

Marketing agents 

It is possible to commission more detailed analyses of the IPS data from marketing agents 

appointed by ONS. The marketing agents are: 

Information Research Network Davis House 

129 Wilton Road 

London 

SW1V 1LD 

Telephone: 0207-416-8107 

Fax: 0207-828-2030 

E-mail: irnxxx@easynet.co.uk 

Web: http://www.interstat.co.uk 

MDS Transmodal 5-6 Hunters Walk 

Canal Street 

Chester 

CH1 4EB 

Telephone: 01244-348301 

Fax: 01244-348471 

E-mail: queries@mdst.co.uk 

MDST@compuserve.com 

Web: http://www.mdst.co.uk 

SH&E Ltd Brambletye House 

29 Brighton Road 

Crawley 

West Sussex 

RH10 6AE 

Telephone: 01293-429700 

Fax: 01293-428833 

E-mail: data_sales@sh-e.co.uk 

Web: http://www.sh_e.com 



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